Malta’s September Bird Deaths Raise Alarm Over Illegal Hunting
Hundreds of European turtle doves were shot in Malta in September, despite the hunting season being closed, while other protected birds were killed in what
Hundreds of European turtle doves were shot in Malta in September, despite the hunting season being closed, while other protected birds were killed in what conservationists describe as an unprecedented month for illegal hunting.
Black storks, European rollers and common kestrels also died in alarming numbers, according to the reported cases. The killings came as exhausted migratory birds sought shelter on the islands after heavy storms swept across the Mediterranean.
Birds met by gunfire
As skies cleared, birds began moving on along their migration routes. Illegal hunters were also waiting, and some birds were shot as they tried to resume their journeys.
An Eurasian hobby that had been shot was found at a school, a case that underscored the risks posed by hunting near places where people gather. Conservationists have called for buffer zones around such areas.
The deaths add to concerns about the safety of migratory birds across the region. In Italy, at least eight protected birds were documented as illegally killed after the hunting season opened. One was a booted eagle found gravely injured in the Lazio region on its journey toward sub-Saharan Africa. It was taken to a wildlife rescue centre in Rome but died. Examinations found fractures in its left wing and eight pellets lodged in its body.
Penalties under consideration
In Malta, the scale of the September killings has drawn particular concern because the government is considering weakening penalties for illegal hunting. The reported cases raise questions about whether enforcement and sanctions can deter further killings while birds pass through the islands.
The incidents also show how migration routes can become perilous when birds stop to recover from severe weather. Some European turtle doves were killed even though their hunting season had already closed, while the range of species affected included storks and birds of prey.
Conservationists are urging action to protect the birds. The next test will be whether Malta strengthens safeguards and penalties as authorities consider changes to hunting rules.
