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Three arrested over slaying of flamingo
Gozo men arrested for shooting of protected flamingo
28 August 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
1 min read
Three men were arrested in relation to the slaying of a flamingo on 24 August at about 6.15 p.m., in the area known as Tal-Fessej in Xewkija.
Back then, the police were informed that a bird fitting the description of one of two flamingos seen earlier was shot by hunters and recovered at sea by a hunting dog.
Despite the several extensive patrols in the area, no sign of the flamingo or the hunters was found.
Nevertheless, it was yesterday that three men, who are 66, 37 and 23-years-old and who live in Nadur, Għajnsielem and Żebbuġ, Gozo, respectively, were arrested following further investigation by the Gozitan Criminal Investigation Department.
Although the super-protected bird has not yet been found, evidence was found that may link the suspects to its slaying.
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If proven guilty it is expected that the gravity of the case will be reflected in the court sentence
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It is precisely for this reason that the shooting period be curtailed as much as possible and not increased. These shooters should be barred for life from owning or handling shotguns or firearms if found guilty by the Courts and the Law must be updated to inflict the most severe punishment for infringements. Shooters are addicts and, in line with addicts of other influences, should be equally punishable at Law including confiscation of their property, and stringent prison terms.
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To the Editor : Why do you keep calling these irresponsible persons hunters ? They are poachers. And please do not start classifying dogs by labelling them as hunting dogs. In this case the dog did not hunt, it retrieved. Hunting dogs are dogs that capture the prey and not retrieve it !! example fox hunting in the UK. Just an other mud slinging exercise to put legal hunting practices and law abiding citizens practising hunting in one sack with these poachers and also in the bad books of the general public.
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Although I am not a hunter, I have always wrote in favour of hunting based on the hunting laws that define which birds are classified as hunting spices. But on this occasion, I appeal to all those of good will to demand that these culprits will be given a good example that they will never forget. These vandals should be given a jail sentence together with a heavy fine, have their hunting license withdrawn and the confiscation of all their firearms.
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Shame on those who shot a beautiful bird as flamingo.
What for ? that's a trophy of ignorance and arrogance when Europe is watching the birds'migration in Malta.
Adrian Busuttil •
I don't understand the following: "...police were informed that a bird fitting the description of one of two flamingos seen earlier". What do they mean? How different can flamingos be from one another? Surely they don't mean different height, build, facial hair, glasses etc? Can someone enlighten me?
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Only severe penalties given to these (criminals) would stop this obsession with killing anything that flies..
