BirdLife Malta has praised the Environmental Protection Unit’s ”immediate response and thorough investigation, which led to the culprit responsible for killing the Black Stork [1] admitting to the crime and receiving a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, a €5,000 fine and a lifetime ban on hunting birds.”
The shooting of the highly protected Black Stork outside Buskett was publicised [2] by BirdLife Malta last week.
The organisation argued that ”considering that the same person is also awaiting other court judgements for hunting during the closed season and targeting other protected species, it is clear that such individuals cannot be trusted with a hunting licence…
It added that ”they should also not be allowed to retain membership of any hunting organisation that claims to have zero tolerance for illegalities.”
BirdLife Malta warned that ”the truth, however, is far from this. A tonne of political pressure is currently being exerted by the hunting lobby to reduce penalties for such crimes, including removing lifetime hunting bans or, even worse, allowing offenders such as this serial offender to regain their hunting licence in due course.”
The organisation asked – ”do you think someone convicted of killing a highly protected bird should ever be allowed to hold a hunting licence again?”
Photo: BirdLife Malta