Be the first to comment!Tourists witness young Greater Flamingo shot down in Gozo
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In the early afternoon of Wednesday, a young Greater Flamingo was shot down in Gozo in front of tourists.
BirdLife Malta said that the bird had alighted on the rocks in Xwejni, Gozo, £probably to rest from the bad weather out at sea.”
“While people were enjoying this beautiful sight, a person was seen shooting it down and carrying the Flamingo into a vehicle before leaving the site,” BirdLife said.
It added that the driver is understood to have aided the hunter to escape from the area.
Information that was reported to BirdLife Malta was handed over to the Gozo Police who are investigating this incident, BirdLife said.
BirdLife understands that the police are undergoing searches on identified persons.
BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana stated, “Gozo has become a mecca of illegalities as bad as Mizieb and l-Ahrax and our hope is that the enforcement authorities takes the situation seriously.”
He went on to say that, “we are also hoping that the public gives a hand in reporting similar incidents by sending all the information in a timely manner to us and the police.”
Sultana stressed that “such incidents in Gozo give us a clear indication that we need to start being more present on this island.”
BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara said, “the bird migration season has started and as has happened every year, a number of protected birds – even during closed season – end up being targeted by hunters who disregard the law, and are a far cry from the conservationists or scientists they try to portray themselves to be.”
The 2023 autumn hunting season kicks off tomorrow and will run for five whole months until 31st January 2024.
BirdLife Malta reiterated its call to the general public to report any illegalities immediately to the police on 119, asking to be transferred through to the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU). BirdLife Malta can also be reached on 2134 7645 or on the emergency (out of office hours) number 7925 5697.
Video and photo – from BirdLife Malta
