The Malta Ranger Unit said that their Rangers were on patrol in Gozo earlier this week, when they spotted an active trap site just before midnight (more than 4 hours after permitted hours).

The Victoria Police were alerted and arrived on site shortly after and entered the area where the active trapping was taking place, the MRU said.

The NGO explained that “the site is seemingly registered with Wild Birds Regulation Unit for daytime legal trapping, but in addition now also used at nighttime for illegal trapping.”

The MRU stressed that “the offenders would know that there is little chance of getting caught without Environmental Enforcement in Gozo.”

It added that the poachers had 9 live Golden Plovers and nets on site. They were confiscated by the Police.

“This is another call on Ministers Miriam Dalli and Clint Camilleri that Gozo doesn’t have an Environmental Protection Unit Police, giving the environmental criminals full impunity,” the MRU said.

The Malta Ranger Unit concluded by saying that “our night shifts in Gozo will continue until illegalities are curbed and the island gets a specialised Environmental Protection Unit Police.”

Photo: MRU

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