
Authorities in Malta and Gozo have apprehended 19 individuals engaged in illegal bird trapping, following reports and video evidence gathered by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS). A total of 85 live finches were confiscated, along with 40 sets of clap nets and 10 electronic bird callers.
Among those caught was an individual previously reported by CABS in 2019 for the same offense. The man had also been accused of exposing himself towards conservationists and reckless driving in a past incident. Due to a legal technicality, his previous case was dismissed.
CABS has also raised concerns about the use of trapping sites that were previously registered under a government-supervised “finch research project.” CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld described the project as controversial, arguing that it has been misused to justify continued trapping.
The organization has confirmed that its teams will remain in Malta and Gozo until May.
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