On Saturday the 12th of September, the very first day of Operation Safe Haven, CABS bird guards caught a group of trappers illegally trapping protected wader species. The police patrol alerted by the conservationists was on hand within 15 minutes and seized a total of 29 strictly protected waders.

After detecting the trapping site, the CABS team observed it from a stand-off distance and it soon became clear that two nets, both some 40 meters long, had been set up. “We became suspicious and decided to take a closer look,” CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld said. The suspicions were justified. The distinctive taped calls of a Redshank, a protected species, were heard emitting from a loudspeaker.

Through a spotting scope the CABS members were able to confirm the presence of protected bird species in an aviary adjacent to the trapping site. Hirschfeld continued, “As we began to collect evidence on film from a nearby track, a stout half-naked middle aged man ran out of the hut, blocked our way, and began to regale us with foul language.” The man then tore open the car door and spat directly in the face of the co-driver – all of which was recorded on film. In order to prevent the situation escalating the conservationists drove off and alerted the police. The A.L.E. patrol which arrived promptly arrested the culprit shortly afterwards and took him to the police HQ in Floriana for questioning.

A second A.L.E. patrol meanwhile searched the trapping site and freed 29 Little Stints as well as Wood and Common Sandpipers. The birds, which were neither ringed nor registered with the authorities, were confiscated and later the same day released into the wild at Ghadira Nature Reserve. The trapper faces prosecution for offences against bird protection regulations. A further charge of spitting at the CABS team member was dropped on the insistence of CABS, “the man has officially apologised in writing and we therefore do not wish to pursue the complaint” Hirschfeld said.

The CABS bird guards will conduct operations on Malta to combat illegal bird shooting and trapping up to the 4th of October. Anyone who can provide information about further illegal trapping sites or offences against the hunting law can do this by email to CABS.DC@gmail.com. All information received will be treated confidentially and the source will not be revealed to third persons or agencies.

Photo shows A.L.E. officers and the arrested trapper at the trapping site in the area of the former Maritime Radio Station (Ta´ Wied Rini) south-east of Bahrija.

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