New spring hunting times add insult to injury – AD

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party has reaffirmed its position against spring hunting, saying that it will take its campaign to abolish spring hunting in the European Parliament, if elected.

“Although shooting of birds during the breeding season is totally unacceptable for obvious conservation reasons, consecutive governments in Malta have approved the killing of turtle doves and quails whose numbers are on the decline,” Simon Galea, AD spokesperson for animal rights, said.

The government opened a 19-day hunting season in derogation from the EU’s ban on spring hunting.

“Year after year protected birds, mainly birds of prey, are killed as a result of the spring hunting season. It is offensive, to say the least, towards the general public to be deprived from enjoying nature. To add insult to injury, this year the massacre of more birds, including endangered ones, will even be carried out on Sundays and public holidays,” Galea said.

Deputy chairperson Carmel Cacopardo, also a candidate for MEP, said AD would never give up its struggle to abolish hunting in spring both at national and at EU level “until such time that spring hunting is struck off Malta’s legislation once and for all.”