Malta – 19. 04. 2018

Irresponsible hunters continue to shoot protected Turtle Doves - CABS

Poacher filmed red-handed in L-Ahrax, Mellieha

Valletta. Although Turtle Doves are strictly protected this spring irresponsible hunters continue to shoot them, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said today. “As soon as the first flocks of migrating Turtle Doves arrived last week the number of gunshots fired in areas suitable for Turtle Dove skyrocketed ”, CABS Wildife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows said adding that hunters have been observed shooting from within trees, sitting inside tower hides, throwing rocks into trees and using wires with empty cans to disturb Turtle Doves from trees. “This is what hunters do if they want to shoot Turtle Doves whereas hunting Quail requires a completely different method (drive hunt), dogs and an open environment”, the ornithologist added.

Last Thursday CABS activists observed hunters shooting down several Turtle Doves in the Fawwarra area at around 7 am. The police were informed and searched the area but were not able to apprehend anyone. Shots at Turtle Doves were also recorded on the Marfa Ridge, Ghar Lapsi and Gharghur last week, CABS said.

This morning a CABS team stationed in L-Ahrax observed and filmed a hunter killing and collecting a Turtle Dove which fell into a small pine forest. The footage, which clearly shows the man´s face and the protected bird in his hand, was passed on to the police who are investigating the case. “We urge the authorities to do their utmost to identify this irresponsible hunter and bring him to court”, Fiona Burrows stated.

The screengrab attached to this mail was taken today 19 April and shows the hunter from L-Ahrax with his shotgun and the killed Turtle Dove in his hands

Contact for photos, video footage and more information:  CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld, fon +0049 179 480 3805 or Email to CABS@komitee.de