The injured Kestrel that was handed over by Gozo Rangers from the Malta Ranger Unit to the Environmental Protection Unit Police earlier this week, was confirmed by the Government Vet to have shotgun wounds.

MRU Rangers on patrol in Gozo monitoring Natura 2000 sites had been contacted by a member of the public who had found an injured Kestrel in the Natura 2000 site of Ghasri.

Following the vet visit the Kestrel was handed over to BirdLife Malta where it will undergo rehabilitation and, if all goes well, it will be released once healed, the MRU said.

The Malta Ranger Unit extended its thanks to BirdLife Malta for the work carried out by their team to care for these birds until they can gain strength.

“Thank you also to the members of the Public who continue to have their eyes open and who act when they see wildlife in need of assistance,” the MRU said.

“This is a call for action, the MRU said. Once again reiterating to Environment Minister Miriam Dalli and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, who is also responsible for hunting and trapping, that “the Gozitan Natura 2000 sites have zero protection due to no EPU Police in Gozo.”

The MRU questioned, “why the flora and fauna in these sites is left to be abused by the environmental criminals?”

“We will continue to remind you and will continue to point this shortcoming out to the European Commission,” the Malta Ranger Unit concluded.

Photo: MRU

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