An investigation conducted by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has led the police to one of the largest illegal live bird collections seized in Malta in recent years.
CABS said its teams were able to confirm that a field near Għaxaq was being used for large-scale illegal trapping and that a multitude of protected birds were being held on the property.
The information was handed over to the Environmental Protection Unit who, together with experts from the Wild Bird Regulation Unit (WBRU), inspected the site and confiscated two sets of large clap-nets and 136 live protected birds from 18 species.
Little stint with severe concretions of faeces on the feet. Photo: CABS
Several plastic decoys and stuffed herons, another protected species, were also taken as evidence. A male suspect was apprehended on site. He is expected to be prosecuted for illegal trapping and illegal possession of protected species. According to CABS the suspect may also face charges for animal cruelty violations.
The live birds found on the site include 16 green sandpipers, 16 wood sandpipers, 16 common sandpipers, 16 greenfinches, 13 little ringed plovers, 12 linnets, nine little stints, nine siskins,...
