Third reintroduced barn owl shot as species remains locally extinct

A third barn owl released as part of a reintroduction project run by the FKNK has been shot and severely injured, according to BirdLife Malta.

The organisation said the injured bird was found in Dwejra on Saturday, February 7, 2026, a week after the close of the autumn hunting season. The owl was severely emaciated and had a broken leg, while a veterinary examination confirmed it had sustained shotgun injuries.

BirdLife Malta explained that the owl was bearing a closed ring inscribed BORP 10.0 24 014, linking it directly to the Barn-owl reintroduction project managed by the FKNK. This is the second shot barn owl recovered since November 2025 originating from the same project.

Data from the recently published national Breeding Bird Atlas show that, despite reintroduction efforts starting in 2018, the barn owl remains locally extinct in Malta, mainly due to illegal hunting-the same factor that caused the species’ disappearance in the 1980s.

BirdLife Malta noted that the FKNK has just secured its sixth round of funding under the Conservation of Wild Birds Fund, bringing the total awarded to the federation for this project to €80,000. However, the organisation argued that initiatives aimed at involving hunters in conservation have not led to any significant reduction in illegal hunting, instead remaining largely public relations exercises, coupled with a continued lack of public condemnation of such practices by the federation.

BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said that the only legacy of hunting in Malta so far has been the local extinction of several once common breeding birds, including the Jackdaw, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl. He added that although the Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon continue to attempt breeding each year, when successful their young are often targeted by illegal hunters.

Beyond preventing the return of species such as the Barn Owl, Peregrine Falcon and Common Kestrel as breeding birds, BirdLife Malta said illegal hunting also deprives the public of the opportunity to experience these protected species in the wild. The organisation stressed that effective conservation requires strong enforcement, accountability and a genuine commitment to safeguarding Malta’s natural heritage.

Following veterinary treatment, the injured owl was returned to the FKNK.

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