Ghadira Nature Reserve was broken into on the weekend for the second time in a month, BirdLife Malta announced today.

In the latest incident an intruder was spotted by the night watchman on Saturday evening, crouching near one of the bird-watching hides.

“There was a very rapid police response on Saturday, which helped to prevent any damage to the Nature Reserve” said Mark Gauci, BirdLife Malta’s Reserves Manager.

Both the Mellieha and Qawra district police, as well as the ALE, arrived very quickly after the incident was reported, and thoroughly searched the Nature Reserve. After the police left, the intruder was spotted again and the police returned to the area a second time.

“It is evident that the intruder was hiding inside the reserve. The individual probably fled the scene when the police returned the second time and unfortunately was not apprehended.’ added Mr. Gauci.

This is the second break-in at the reserve in recent months. On Christmas Eve, the fence was cut open and a plank laid across the moat which surrounds the reserve. It appears that in this case there were more than one individual as two sets of foot prints were found next to the fence. It appears that the intruders abandoned their attempt after one of them fell into the water. Three live shotgun cartridges were also found at the scene by the Nature Reserve warden.

“Considering the size of the charge and pellets, it is possible that the intruders were intending to shoot a large bird, possibly the young Flamingo which is still resident inside the reserve. The Flamingo has already suffered gunshot wounds last year when it briefly left the Reserve in October.” Mr. Gauci said.

Ghadira Nature Reserve is one of two protected wetland reserves in Malta and is given additional international protection as a Natura 2000 site and a Ramsar wetland Site of International Importance. The reserve holds nationally important breeding populations of several birds, and is the only site in Malta which has a breeding population of Little Ringed Plovers. The plovers had their most successful breeding season last year, with the highest number of pairs recorded to date.

‘We have now taken extra security steps to safeguard both of the Nature Reserves and hope that this will stop future break in attempts.’. Mr Gauci concluded.

Photo: Ghadira Nature Reserve warden Charles Gauci displays the three cartridges found at the site of the break-in on Christmas Eve.

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