[WATCH] Amnesty proposed for hunters with illegal stuffed bird collections

Amnesty proposed for illegal stuffed birds collections

On suggestion of the Wild Birds Regulation Unit, the Ornis Committee will be discussing a proposal to grant amnesty to hunters with illegal collections of stuffed birds.

Illegally shot birds of prey are usually kept as prized possessions by hunters. The Ornis Committee, meeting in the coming hour, will be deciding whether to grant amnesty to those possessing illegally stuffed birds. Such amnesty was granted twice - in 1993 and 2003 - and saw a total registration of 400,000 stuffed birds. However, the list was never verified by the authorities.

"The collection of stuffed birds is the major drive of illegal hunting. The Prime Minister himself closed the hunting season following the killing of storks destined for collection. Now, instead of facing a €5,000 fine for the illegal killing of birds, hunters will be given the opportunity to register their stuffed birds, pay a €500 flat fee and €50 per bird to be registered. This is no way of stopping illegal hunting; this is a way to make problems worse," BLM coordinator Steve Micklewright said.

Addressing journalists outside MEPA's Hexagon Building in Marsa, Micklewright said the government was not showing the "zero tolerance" pledged against illegal hunting but "a complete acceptance of what goes on".

Holding placards showing dead birds, BirdLife Malta called on the government to intervene and overturn any decision to be taken by the Ornis Committee in this reagrd.

The granting of an amnesty was proposed by Wild Birds Regulation Unit head Sergei Golovkin. BLM representative Nick Barbara said the proposal for hunters to come clean would only serve to legitimize the killing.