While escorting a Short-toed Eagle on its flight to the roost in Buskett Gardens volunteers of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said that they observed a group of hunters firing seven shots at the protected bird.

The incident happened yesterday at 5:20pm when the bird flew low to land on a tree in the sanctuary, CABS said.

The police were called immediately but did not search the area. “We have been informed that the police had no resources left as they were busy with responding to separate reports of eagles being killed in other areas of the island,” CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows said.

According to CABS more than 20 Short-toed Eagles as well as some Booted Eagles arrived in Malta yesterday.

The NGO said that it has received reports from local birdwatchers that the raptors have also been targeted by hunters in Fomm ir-rih and on the Gebel Ciantar plateau south of Buskett.

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