BirdLife Malta accuses Kaċċaturi San Ubertu of deception<\/p>\n
“Kaċċaturi San Ubertu’s (KSU) statement once again exposes the amateur level of argument coming from the smaller group within the hunting lobby,” BirdLife Malta said in a statement on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
“There is a basic failure to understand the difference between the Central Eastern flyway, which Malta forms part of, and the Western flyway,” the NGO said.<\/p>\n
It was reacting to a statement by KSU which said that BirdLife Malta was contradicting BirdLife International which issued a reported which said that Turtle Doves were making a strong comeback. <\/p>\n
BirdLife Malta issued a report in recent days showing that Turtle-dove populations are still declining along the Central-Eastern flyway.<\/p>\n
The NGO said that KSU’s claim “is misleading” because the “slight recovery recorded last year” refers only to the Western flyway, whereas Malta sits on the Central Eastern flyway. <\/p>\n
“That recovery is not accidental but follows a four-year full moratorium on hunting in countries such as Spain, Portugal and France. This clearly demonstrates that autumn hunting has a significant negative impact on Turtledove populations. It is therefore obvious that spring hunting is even more damaging,” BirdLife Malta said.<\/p>\n
“We suggest that before issuing knee-jerk reactions on subjects they clearly do not understand, KSU focuses its attention where it is truly needed – on ongoing illegalities within its own ranks. Reports in recent days are far more telling than any attempt to misrepresent scientific facts,” the NGO said.<\/p>\n
It cited recent reports of hunting illegalities including the brutal killing of a Common Kestrel in Gozo by a member of the hunting and trapping community, another Common Kestrel blinded and injured at Mqabba on 20 March 2026, and a Grey Heron with its beak destroyed, near Delimara on 27 March 2026. <\/p>\n
“Spring hunting has an expiry date. That time is now,” BirdLife Malta said.<\/p>\n