Malta – 18. 04. 2017

Poacher arrested in Hal Farrug - CABS

Man filmed hunting illegally on two consecutive days

This morning at around 8.30am officers of the A.L.E. arrested a poacher and confiscated his shotgun after he was filmed by members of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) hunting illegally yesterday and today at Wied Hanzir, near Ħal Farruġ.

The hunter is believed to be a member of a gang of at least 3 poachers who have been observed hunting in the area on a daily basis despite the hunting season being closed after last Friday. The arrest was the result of a CABS surveillance operation which was conducted after members of the public alerted the organisation that they have heard dozens of shots coming from the valley since the closure of the hunting season.

“This is organised crime. The poachers hid in a secluded area and informed each other with radios about the movement of Turtle Doves and other protected birds. One man was assigned to watch over the area and the roads leading into the valley to alert the others when police are patrolling”, CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows reported, adding that the police also seized a set of radios.

However, all precautional measures proved futile as a CABS team managed to film one of the hunters from a hideout yesterday and today with a shotgun in his hand on both days.

CABS praised the officers of the A.L.E. for their quick response and the extensive search of the valley which finally led to the arrest.

"There has been some turtle dove migration in the past days which has tempted poachers to take risks for the chance to shoot this species to satisfy their obsession with it. However, we are conducting undercover operations in various locations around Malta and Gozo and expect more arrests in the coming days", CABS Operations Officer Axel Hirschfeld stated.

Contact for photographic and video material and other information:

CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld, fon +0049 179 480 3805 or 99554442 (Maltese mobile) or Email to CABS@komitee.de