A Gozitan hunter was earlier this week sentenced a fine of €1,200, had his gun confiscated and lost his hunting licence for two years, for killing a protected collared-dove in 2022.
The footage taken by BirdLife Malta at Nadur, Gozo during the spring hunting season of 2022, caught the hunter in question shooting and injuring a protected Eurasian Collared-dove, which after chasing it, he then finished off using his mouth.
BirdLife Malta said that the video evidence was part of the compilation of evidence presented in court against the hunter.
BirdLife Malta officials presented various screenshots of the incident, including an explanation of the main differences in appearance between a Collared-dove and a Turtle-dove which was huntable at the time of the incident, while Spring Watch volunteers recounted the events on the day, which were reported to Gozo Police.
BirdLife Malta said that its intervention has proven successful in assisting the Gozo Police in achieving the only prosecution for the island of Gozo for the spring hunting season of 2022.
BirdLife argued that this is “despite the island being a mecca for various Maltese and Gozitan hunters during the spring season, and which is marred by the sheer lack of enforcement particularly during spring hunting derogations.”
It pointed out that by law for every 1,000 hunters on the island, Gozo police would need to field at least seven officers patrolling and spot checking.
BirdLife Malta video and screenshot
1 Comment To "Gozitan hunter guilty of killing protected collared-dove, finishing it off with his mouth"
#1 Comment By George Stephen Palmer On July 30, 2023 @ 10:31 am
This savage should have been given a 10000 Euro fine, banned for life and a six month prison sentence. That would make the other knuckle dragging Neanderthals think twice about committing illegalities.