[WATCH] Despite harsher penalties, eagle massacre continues

The confirmed body count of eagles shot down by hunters in Malta and Gozo reached 12 this morning, after two of these rare and highly protected birds of prey were killed in front of watching BirdLife Malta volunteers.

Despite the presence of six BirdLife teams and as many police Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) units in the Buskett area this morning, at least one Booted Eagle, Ajkla tal-Kalzetti, was shot down inside Buskett Gardens as it left its roost this morning.

Several others, including Short-toed and Booted Eagles, were shot at and many more were seen carrying injuries after last night's shooting spree by hunters in Dingli, Buskett, Girgenti, Siġġiewi and Zebbuġ.

This morning's second confirmed victim was a Short-toed Eagle, Ajkla Bajda, shot down in Gozo, BirdLife said. 

"The shootings follow what can only be described as a massacre yesterday evening, after more than 50 eagles were seen by birdwatchers counting passing migrating birds in their regular watch-point above the wooded valley of Buskett," BirdLife said in a statement.

At least 10 eagles are known to have been shot down and many more targeted by dozens of hunters in locations around Buskett. Several as yet unconfirmed reports were also received from members of public who saw eagles and other large birds of prey being shot at and shot down.

BirdLife Malta's Conservation Manager, Nicholas Barbara, described the events as a tragic wake-up call.

"We haven't seen the wanton slaughter of this many protected birds by this many hunters in Malta for a long time. It is difficult to see this as anything other than a complete catastrophe and the descriptions of the scale of killing we have seen in the last 24 hours as an 'isolated incident' and the scenario that only a few rogue bad apples are responsible for killing protected birds is not consistent with reality.

"We can only hope that these events serve as a serious wake-up call to the government that the current enforcement of hunting is not doing the job and things need to change for the situation to improve."

Criminal acts lead to harsher penalties

The parliamentary secretary for animal rights, under whose remit falls the Wild Birds Regulation Unit which monitors the application of hunting laws, condemned the barbaric act.

Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said that the criminal act was being investigated using all available resources. "Any perpetrators will be brought to face the full brunt of the law."

The government will tomorrow publish an amendment to Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations, which will result in the introduction of considerably harsher penalties for all forms of serious hunting-related offences.

"The traditional socio-cultural practice of hunting and live-capturing of wild birds in Malta must respect the principle of sustainability if it is to persist. This is why zero-tolerance policy in relation to wildlife crime is the only way forward. Barbaric criminal acts, such as the one that occurred today have no place in the modern society. This is why a more effective legal deterrent against illegalities is not an end in itself, but a means to guarantee not only the protection of wildlife, but also sustainability of legitimate hunting activities," Galdes said.

Minimum fines for serious hunting offences such as for shooting protected birds or poaching in a bird sanctuary have been doubled, both for first and subsequent convictions, whilst the maximum fines have also been considerably increased, with €15,000 being the maximum applicable fine for repeat offenders. The new regime also envisages imprisonment for a period of between 6 months and up to two years, suspension of hunting license for a period of between 2 and 5 years (with the possibility for permanent revocation), as well as confiscation, and the possibility of mandatory community service.