The Law Court in Valletta has today delivered the sentencing in the case against a poacher who was caught with a huge illegal collection of live protected birds on the 20th of September 2022.

The police had responded to a report on that day from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) who informed the authorities about illegal activities on a bird trapping site in Ghaxaq.

CABS said that when police inspected the site they found the accused, an active clap-net and various aviaries full with live protected birds, among them 16 Green Sandpipers, 16 Common Sandpipers, 16 Wood Sandpipers, 13 Little Ringed Plovers, nine Little Stints, five Common Ringed Plovers and three Black-Winged Stilts.

It was explained that officials from the government´s Wild Bird Regulation Unit (WBRU) were called to the scene and confirmed that “most birds” on site lacked any documentation or breeding-rings as required by law. Subsequently a total of 137 live protected birds as well as several stuffed bird trophies were confiscated, said CABS.

“This is one of the largest illegal collections of live birds ever seized on the island,” said CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows, who was heard as a witness in the proceedings.CABS said that “in view of the overwhelming evidence the man admitted to most charges and was handed a one-year prison term suspended for 2 years and a fine of 1,000 Euros.”

CABS went on to say that “the verdict also reflects that the man is a notorious repeat offender who previously spent time in jail for the illegal shooting of protected Mute Swans in St. Thomas Bay in January 2002. Back then the accused and two of his cousins used a speedboat to chase the exhausted birds and killed seven of them. In April 2017 and August 2019, he was also reported by CABS staff for hunting during the closed season and for illegal trapping of protected waders.”

“This man is without any doubt one of Malta´s worst poachers. We are very pleased that the court treated this case with the seriousness it deserved,” CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld said in a statement.

With regards to the man´s criminal history he added, “unfortunately, the accused seems to be one of those who never learns. We hope that one day he will realise the damage he has caused to nature and himself and change his life for the better.”

Photos and video:CABS

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