The European turtle dove (gamiema) has been placed on the Red List of threatened birds in Europe, BirdLife Malta announced during a press conference in Floriana this morning, a move which will have serious implications for the future of spring hunting of this near endangered species of bird, BLM said.

The pan-European report, published by the European Commission, cites hunting as a significant threat to the survival of turtle doves in the wild, and states that hunting of these birds in spring should be restricted to avoid preventing total extinction.

BLM said that “the Maltese Government is now legally obliged to consider this negative change in conservation status when they make a decision on spring hunting for next year. This obligation stems from the same Framework Regulations, which were the subject of last April’s referendum to abolish spring hunting.”

Turtle doves were previously listed as being of ‘least concern,’ but with rapid population declines of 80% across Europe, are now recognised as a vulnerable species at risk of becoming endangered in the wild.

Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager, said,”this new evidence is extremely worrying; turtle doves are at risk of disappearing from the wild in our lifetime. The Government is now legally obliged to take this into consideration and make a decision on the future of spring hunting of these threatened birds.”

“We know from bird ringing records that turtle doves migrating over Malta in spring are on their way to breed in Eastern Europe, particularly Germany, Austria and Poland where these birds are struggling for survival,” said Steve Micklewright, BirdLife Malta Executive Director.

“In many other countries the hunting of turtle dove is completely banned and Malta is now the only EU country that allows it to be hunted in spring. This new information confirms more than ever before that spring hunting is unsustainable. It has to be stopped before it is too late,” Steve Micklewright concluded.

Photograph: Turtle Dove by Dennis Cachia

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