After news surfaced that protected bird species were being shot illegally, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) issued a statement condemning the act.
‘The killing of protected birds was and will always be condemned without reserve by the FKNK’, the organisation wrote.
‘Whoever kills protected birds has no place with FKNK. These acts damage the continuous efforts by the FKNK which seek to continue the hunting tradition.’
With the statement going on to thank the ‘thousands of hunters who are responsible and practice ethical hunting’, the statement follows reports by various individuals and groups, prominently Birdlife Malta, of illegal hunting happening around the island.
This also comes right after another Osprey being shot, with lead pellets shattering both legs beyond any chance of recovery.
‘The bird is a juvenile one that started its life some months ago in Latvia’, Birdlife explained. ‘ Its journey has however been cut short as a direct result of the state of impunity that hunting is in. Years back a 3pm curfew protected these birds from being hunted down as they arrive to Malta to rest for the night. Yet currently most of the hunting that is witnessed in the afternoon is simply on such protected species.’
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