The Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK), in a statement this afternoon said that it has just been informed that a kestrel was shot in the area of Cottonera and that the wounded bird fell in the yard of St. Edwards College.
The hunters were referring to a report this afternoon of a kestrel that crashed bleeding into the yard of St Edward’s College in Cottonera.
The children were on their break at the time of the incident and many of them were greatly distressed at witnessing the wounded bird.
Officers from the ALE took the bird away after the Police were called. It is understood that the Animal Welfare Department have told teachers that the bird may survive.
The FKNK said that, “while strongly condemning this criminal act, it is at present carrying out its investigations and appeals to anyone within its members, but also to the public in general, who may have any information that may lead to the identification of the offender to immediately contact either the police on 119 or the FKNK on 99474503.”
“This criminal must be brought to justice,” the FKNK said.
Kaccaturi San Ubertu (KSU) also issued a statement on the shooting the protected bird and said, “we condemn this incident without reservations and question why hunting should be permitted outside the perimeter of a school.”
“It is inconceivable considering the exemplary behaviour of the absolute majority of hunters during this season that few still persist with such criminal behaviour,” said KSU.
KSU called on members of the public or hunters within the area to pass on any relevant information to the police.
“People of this sort should be shown no mercy by our law courts. We solicit the maximum penalty contemplated by law should the perpetrator be identified,” the KSU concluded.