Second flock of flamingos gunned down as poachers take to the sea
October 2012. For the second time in less than a
week illegal hunters have shot at and killed at least two Greater Flamingos
flying off the coast of Malta, this time hunting the protected birds at sea,
while BirdLife Malta received three more shot protected birds recovered at sea
over the weekend.
Hunters on a speedboat
On Sunday afternoon a flock of at least 60 flamingos was spotted flying low off the coast opposite Maghtab. Within a minute, hunters on a speedboat within one kilometre of the coast were seen shooting at the flock, killing two birds, which fell into the sea and were collected by the men on the boat.
Hunting at sea is permitted for 13 species of duck and goose between 1st October and 31st January. The birds that are protected on land are also protected at sea and it is illegal to hunt within 3 kilometres of the shore.
On Sunday afternoon a flock of at least 60 flamingos was spotted flying low off the coast opposite Maghtab. Within a minute, hunters on a speedboat within one kilometre of the coast were seen shooting at the flock, killing two birds, which fell into the sea and were collected by the men on the boat.
Hunting at sea is permitted for 13 species of duck and goose between 1st October and 31st January. The birds that are protected on land are also protected at sea and it is illegal to hunt within 3 kilometres of the shore.
Honey Buzzard, a
Yellow-legged Gull and a Cory's Shearwater all shot
BirdLife Malta received three more shot protected birds on Saturday, a Honey Buzzard, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Cory's Shearwater, all recovered at sea. The Cory's Shearwater, which was found with broken wings and injuries to its beak, was amongst another three shot dead at sea in the same area. Fishermen on a boat had earlier spotted three hunters shooting at any birds that flew overhead.
BirdLife Malta received three more shot protected birds on Saturday, a Honey Buzzard, a Yellow-legged Gull and a Cory's Shearwater, all recovered at sea. The Cory's Shearwater, which was found with broken wings and injuries to its beak, was amongst another three shot dead at sea in the same area. Fishermen on a boat had earlier spotted three hunters shooting at any birds that flew overhead.
Injured flamingos have died
When the first flamingos were shot at Qawra the Maltese environmental police (ALE) had confirmed that they didn't even have a boat out patrolling and weren't able to help with retrieving the injured birds from the sea. BirdLife learned that both the injured juvenile flamingos rescued last week and sent to the government veterinary services have since died of their gunshot injuries.
When the first flamingos were shot at Qawra the Maltese environmental police (ALE) had confirmed that they didn't even have a boat out patrolling and weren't able to help with retrieving the injured birds from the sea. BirdLife learned that both the injured juvenile flamingos rescued last week and sent to the government veterinary services have since died of their gunshot injuries.
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