The Malta Ranger Unit said its Rangers were walking along the Kercem Natura 2000 site in Gozo (Rdumijiet ta’ Ghawdex: ll-Ponta ta’ Harrux sal-Bajja tax-Xlendi) when they “spotted two finch trapping sites that had nets that weren’t covered.”
The Victoria Police were called by the Rangers and were on site within 15 minutes.
The law is very clear, the Rangers said. “that to protect wildlife from getting entangled, the nets have to be fully covered when the trapper (‘researcher’) isn’t attending the site.”
The MRU stated that “seemingly alerted by nearby spotters about our presence, an individual appeared within minutes and started to dismantle one of the sites in front of our Rangers. He escaped before the Police arrived, but enough evidence was gathered by our Rangers for legal action to be taken against the identified man.”
“The second individual appeared just seconds before the Police and unknowingly walked down on his site, past the Rangers, with the Police walking down behind him. He started to dismantle his nets in front of the Police who at that point confronted him,” the Rangers said.
The MRU added that, “he had his equipment confiscated and we expect legal action to be taken as per SL.549.145 and SL.549.74. The individual, not pleased to be caught leaving nets unattended, stated that he would take legal action against the Rangers for being on private land.”
The MRU said that it welcomes such a Court case to take place, with the Rangers having documented everything “to prove that they indeed were in public space at all times – Threats like these won’t intimidate us.”
The MRU insisted that “harming nature and feeling impunity when caught shouldn’t be a thing in 2024. Minister Miriam Dalli – this is the Natura 2000 site your Ministry is inaugurating, full of illegalities with zero enforcement. Time to change that! Time for Gozo to get around the clock Environmental Protection Unit Police.”
“At the moment the Gozitan environmental criminals enjoy 100% impunity,” stated the MRU.
The Malta Ranger Unit expressed thanks to the Gozo Police Officers “who reported on site within minutes after our Rangers alerted them of the illegalities.”
Photos: Malta Ranger Unit