Protected Bird Shot & Crushed Under Hunter’s Foot Caught On Camera

BirdLife Malta shared footage of a protected common kestrel being killed by a hunter in Ħal Farruġ yesterday.

The hunter was filmed killing the protected bird, being held under his foot until it died after being shot.

A BirdLife Malta Raptor Camp team was operating in the area and, thanks to their intervention, the incident was brought to the attention of the Environmental Protection Unit.

Officers apprehended the hunter and, following a thorough search, recovered the dead kestrel.

‘How can such incidents keep happening if killing a Common Kestrel can result in a €5,000 fine and a lifetime hunting licence ban’, asked BirdLife.

‘Is such a penalty not enough or insignificant when hunters deliberately kill protected species, believing they can go unseen?’

#MaltaDaily