The Malta Ranger Unit has welcomed the fact that the Opposition has taken note of the Unit’s plea for an Environmental Protection Unit to be stationed in Gozo.
PN MP Spokesperson for Public Administration and Local Governance Darren Carabott stated today that he will ask the Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to verify this information.
This follows the shooting down of a juvenile Greater Flamingo at Xwejni, Gozo. The incident took place in full view of tourists, who saw the dead bird retrieved and whisked away in a waiting vehicle.
The MP also highlighted the face that “this is not the first time it has happened. More flamingos were killed in September 2022, in October 2021, and in August 2019, November 2018, in September 2017, etc.”
The MRU, in response to Carabott’s statement explained that, “as it is today, when our Rangers go to Gozo, they have to report ongoing environmental crimes to the district Police who naturally many times do not possess the necessary knowledge to deal with such cases.”
The MRU stressed that “it’s essential to have trained Police dealing with ongoing environmental crimes to increase the chance of successful prosecution. Such is the case in Malta and it’s very efficient, both for the ones reporting and for the Authorities involved in the cases.”
This is not only about poaching, it said, “but about all environmental crimes ongoing in Gozo leading to environmental degradation and biodiversity loss due to no EPU being stationed there.”
Photo: BirdLife Malta