Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) said in a statement today that it “unreservedly condemned the shooting of a Black Stork in the vicinity of Buskett this morning.”

IKSU said, “Noting a marked decrease in illegalities this season thanks to the Government’s commitment to increase enforcement and the contribution of law abiding hunters towards eradicating abuse, KSU calls on the judiciary to implement the harshest penalties for similar abuse.”

“KSU augur that the envisaged introduction of a wildlife crime unit within the police force and harsher more specific penalties coupled with appropriate court sentencing will eradicate this small element of abuse,” it said.

In order to safeguard legal hunting practices KSU said that it calls on its members and other hunters to report any illegal incidents related to the persecution of protected birds to the police on 112, 119 or the ALE on 2294 2161 / 62 / 63.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) also this morning “condemned strongly the criminal act that occurred early this morning when someone shot down a black stork, a protected bird species, in the Buskett area.”

The FKNK said that it is informed that the shot bird has been handed over to the police. It was also informed that earlier the bird had been observed in several other parts of Malta accompanied by a similar bird..

“Yesterday evening four other black storks had also been observed in other parts of Malta, which birds continued on their south-west journey without incidents, as did other observed birds of prey, such as eagles and other raptors,” the FKNK said.

The FKNK concluded “that it will do anything within its power to ensure that such primitive acts cease and safeguard the legitimate hunting and trapping Maltese traditions.”

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