Update 2 | Three questioned on flamingo death, FKNK to suspend perpetrators

Updated at 5:46pm

A police investigation into the disappearance of a flamingo last night has led to the arrest of three men, following reports that the flamingo had been killed and taken away at around midnight, while it was resting in the area between Salina and Qawra.

Police had been sent to guard the bird after it flew into Salina yesterday morning. However, the flamingo flew away at around 9 pm.

At around midnight, while police were searching for the flamingo, they received reports that it had returned to Salina, and that somebody had shot at it and then was seen swimming towards it from the Salina salt pans.

Police arrived on the scene to investigate, and were told by residents of the surrounding area that they had seen a man with the bird driving away. Witnesses described the vehicle in question, which was later found abandoned in Burmarrad.

The vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Pajero, was found about a kilometre away from the the main road. In it, police found indications it may have been involved in the flamingo's disappearance.  

Following further investigation, police arrested three suspects who are being questioned about the crime. The bird has not yet been found.

Duty magistrate Francesco Depasquale was informed of the case, and he assigned experts to assist in the investigation.

Roderick Galdes, parliementary secretary for aninal rights, condemned the "barbaric killing" of the bird. "This is an irresponsible and criminal act and police must continue with their investigations in order to bring the perpetrator to justice," he said.

He also said that those who committed such barbaric acts would find no protection from the government.

Meanwhile, BirdLife Malta's executive director Steve Micklewright thanked members of the public for their help in monitoring the Salina saltpans yesterday evening. Several people, he said, called the police to report hearing shots and eyewitnesses to the incident have come forward to aid police in their investigations.

"Without the help of several local residents living next to the saltpans, who were watching the area where the flamingo was last seen, vital evidence about the culprits may not have been available to the police," Micklewright said.

BirdLife Malta also praised the police response to the incident. "The work of the ALE and Naxxar District Police in responding to the incident and conducting follow-up investigations has been excellent," BirdLife's Conservation Manager Nicholas Barbara said.

BirdLife called on any members of public with further information relating to the case to come forward and report it to the investigating police.

In a statement, hunters' lobby FKNK said it would immediately suspend the person responsible for the killing of the bird if the accused is within its ranks, but that it would for the final court decision to cancel their membership completely.

"The FKNK has no adjective to describe the person who carried out this criminal act. It is time that serious action is taken by our courts. While they have already stepped up on punishments meted out in recent cases, the persistence of a remaining handful of 'poachers' must understand they have no further shelter anywhere in civilised society," the federation said.

"This specific incident comes at a time when FKNK officials were in the area of Salina to admire the bird in question and other FKNK members were on guard in the area and took pictures of the bird. Furthermore, FKNK officials were in liaison with the Ornis Committee chairman with a view to assist in the guarding process.

"These incidents have created over the years, one of the highest anti-hunting profiles within the view of the general public. These criminal acts have absolutely nothing to do with hunting and the legal hunting community abhors any such acts and consequent comparison."

The FKNK also said that it had cancelled the membership of Carl Borg, from Mellieha, who last week was convicted of firing his shotgun inside a nature reserve. The FKNK said it had informed the Commissioner of Police of the cancellation.