Update below as 2nd shot Flamingo recovered on Sunday – BirdLife Malta has said that another protected bird has been shot, this time a Flamingo. The incident happened early this morning in Hal Far.

BirdLife Malta’s CEO Mark Sultana in a statement, described this as “outrageous and disgusting. To make things worse the Government seems to be adopting a nonchalant attitude with promises of reducing fines still being considered.”

“We demand action on behalf of all those who love nature. We ask the general public to show their concern and ask them to support us today more than ever,” he added.

BLM and the Police were called on site by a person who witnessed the bird being shot at and then falling some distance from where it was hit.

The juvenile Greater Flamingo was retrieved and handed to the Police who delivered the bird to the vet.

BirdLife Malta said that unfortunately the bird had lost a lot of blood from a completely fractured right wing and nothing could be done to save it. “Due to its severe gunshot injuries the vet had no other option but to put it down.”

Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager, who was on site with the Police, described this incident as “disgusting and unfair” especially after two other Flamingos were recently saved after they got stranded.

He said, “this Flamingo is a different bird than the two birds retrieved a few weeks ago and which recently attracted a lot of attention when one of them landed at Ghadira Bay among swimmers.”

BirdLife Malta remarked that, this is the “tenth injured protected bird it had retrieved this autumn, while various others have been seen carrying injuries from gunshots.”

The NGO stated, “this is just the tip of the iceberg making it one of the worst autumn hunting seasons in the past recent years.”

BirdLife Malta called for an “improved enforcement drive while once again asking the Government to set up as soon as possible a Wildlife Crime Unit within the Malta Police Force.”Update: Adult Flamingo shot – BLM

In an update on Sunday, BirdLife Malta, has said that it has retrieved a second shot Flamingo, this time an adult bird from Marsaskala.

The bird is being kept under observation after it was also confirmed shot by the veterinarian, BLM said.

BirdLife Malta once again insisted on a call for action from the Maltese Government.

The NGO said that, this is second injured Flamingo retrieved in a day, and becomes the 11th known shot protected bird this autumn hunting season.