BirdLife calls for Qawra Point to become no-hunting zone, as 4 Greater Flamingos shot down

The massacre, this morning, of 4 Greater Flamingos which were illegally shot down by a hunter at Qawra Point amplifies the past requests by BirdLife Malta for this area to be declared a no-hunting zone.

Police officers from the Environmental Protection Unit, Rapid Intervention Unit and District Officers, this morning arrested a 23-year-old man after 4 Greater Flamingos were shot and killed in Qawra.

Police had said that the Armed Forces of Malta assisted the officers in retrieving 3 of the shot birds from the sea, whilst the fourth was found on land. A firearm and ammunition were also seized.

The 23-year old, who was arraigned in court on Saturday afternoon, plead not guilty and denied bail, with the prosecution objecting due to the fact that witnesses were still to testify.

BirdLife Malta explained that the small islet is very well placed for migratory birds to find refuge on and with its vicinity to BirdLife Malta’s Salina Nature Reserve, birds coming in or out of the reserve have been targeted by hunters in this area.

It argued that “it is also close to the residential area of Qawra and in fact man had complained about the continuous illegal use of electronic callers, day and night. Apart from the fact that during the last months of the swimming season, bathers in the area feel unsafe knowing that just a few metres away hunters are aiming their guns at water birds while they are swimming.”

These are the main reasons why BirdLife Malta said that it has for the past years insisted with the relevant authorities that this becomes a protected area and a “no-hunting zone.”

BirdLife Malta said that it is aware that progress had been made recently on this, with a guardianship deed agreement also presented to it to take over the area, “however this had to be refused until hunting is banned from the area.”

“With the illegal killing of birds being highlighted in the European Commission’s legal proceedings on Malta’s derogations, today’s massacre of Greater Flamingos will not go unnoticed, and action will be expected,” it said.

In view of all this BirdLife Malta said that it is calling on Prime Minister Robert Abela to “protect Qawra Point and the birds that fly over it by declaring it a no- hunting area. BirdLife Malta is expecting this as the public is outraged at the illegal killing problem in our country.”

“While these Flamingos were being shot down at Qawra Point, children and families were at our Ghadira Nature Reserve enjoying the beauty of nature in one of the few bird sanctuaries on the island,” BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana stated. “We need to see action over and above words, now. There is no doubt that Malta needs to solve the illegal killing problem, and this can be done by designating more bird sanctuaries and restarting the verification process of stuffed bird collections that benefited from past amnesties.”

BirdLife thanked the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) of the Malta Police Force, Qawra Police and the Armed Forces of Malta for this morning’s intervention. Their efficient and coordinated effort following the report lodged by BirdLife Malta volunteers who witnessed the Flamingos being shot has led to the arrest of the alleged perpetrator of today’s crime.”

Photo BirdLife Malta{ The flock of Greater Flamingos just before it was shot down; Police photo of dead flamingos and • Video summing up this morning’s events (Footage by BirdLife Malta, editing by Nathaniel Attard)