International Animal
Rescue(Malta) was set up in l993. It is the first branch of International
Animal Rescue, which was set up outside the United Kingdom. Some of the
objectives are to rescue, give aid and assistance to animals in need both
living in the wild or domesticated. To raise awareness amongst the public
and the authorities of the many ways the animals are being exploited. To
help stamp out cruelty to animals. To promote animal rights both in Malta
and abroad.
Amongst the main
projects regarding the wildlife, International Animal Rescue campaign
against hunting at sea and on land in Malta, lobby for better laws and
regulations, and run a Wildlife Hospital for which a permit has been
issued by the secretariat for the Environment. We medicate, rehabilitate,
and then release to the wild injured birds, and wild life. Other projects
are campaigns against captive dolphins and whales in Malta and abroad. We
also organise campaigns against cruelty to animals in religious feasts.
International Animal Rescue during the last three years co-ordinated work
with various television crews from United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland
to shoot video productions on hunting in Malta. Last but not least,
International Animal Rescue with the help of the mother foundation donated
a boat to the Administrative Law Enforcement police, to curb down illegal
hunting at sea.
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The present Labour
Government in opposition made an agreement with the hunters association
before the general elections that when it returns to power the l993 bird
regulations will be amended. Four months after gaining power this
agreement was honoured and the regulations amended. In l993, the new Bird
Protection Regulations came in force: they were considered as a milestone
for conservation and up to February l997 remained the stiffest regulations
that bird protection in Malta ever since. Barely three years later, these
regulations were dealt a serious blow by the Authority of Review which
amended them undermining their effectiveness. Conservation never got the
chance to show how rich our islands could be if given adequate protection.
Following all this
the new government ignored the voice of the majority of the Maltese people
who don`t want to see birds shot and amended the regulations.
Shooting on land used
to be from 1st September to 31st January and from 1st April to 20th May.
This is now amended and the shooting season starts on 1st September up to
31st January and from 22nd March to 22nd May. The spring shooting open
season falls during the return of migration which occurs just before
breeding. Any sensible shooting system would not allow hunting in spring,
since this is a time when bird populations can't make up for their loses
as both migration periods are a shooter`s freeway. This amendment adds 10
more days of slaughter.
TRAPPING
Trapping is permitted
from 1st September to 31st January and from mid March to 22nd May. The
extensive trapping season which covers the spring migration has the same
negative effects as shooting. Several finches for instance have repeatedly
tried to breed in Malta, but the nets has frustrated their efforts
everytime.
Prior to the
amendments 30 bird species could be shot whilst 14 may be trapped, mostly
finches. As amended all species which may be shot may also be trapped, and
if caught can be kept alive. By adding 16 more species to the trappers`
list of legal quarry secures another nail in the bird's coffin.
Shooting from
seacrafts used to be permitted from November to the end of January. The
new amendment permits seashooting from October 1 to the end of February.
Ducks which use a sea route to migrate, start their spring journey earlier
than the others who use the land This amendment neatly ensures that the
shooter doesn't miss the duck's spring migration which is already underway
in February. Shooting from seacraft is not allowed within 3km of the
shore. this remained the same. it confirms the shooter`s advantage over
birds migrating at sea.
This new amendment is
totally out of place. A fisherman now can carry shotgun and ammunition.
Since when did bird protection regulations cater for the protection of the
fisherman? Clearly, this is just another excuse for allowing more people
to attack birds on all fronts. How will the police effectively enforce the
law at sea, when even shooting on land is out of hand. A consideration
number of registered fisherman are licensed hunters.
Prior to the
amendments a special license may be obtained for shooting and trapping
birds in spring. This is no longer needed. No special licenses is
required. One license covers all the open seasons. It doesn't make any
difference whether a shooter or trapper need more than one license to kill
or trap. Shooting and trapping in spring doesn't make sense and nothing
short of a ban will redress the imbalance shooters have created with
nature.
It was possible to
trap rabbits from 1st. June up to the end of the year and hunt rabbit
1st.September to the end of the year. Rabbits now can be trapped for six
months from June to December. Considering the poor law enforcement that we
are accustomed to, giving hunters a further three months of open season
supposedly to hunt only rabbit will no doubt result in a seven-month
stretch of uninterrupted massacre of birds. This is considered as the most
irresponsible of the whole lot.
Hunting and trapping
on Sundays and public holidays were allowed up to noon. The new
regulations granted the hunters another hour whilst trapping can go on. By
means of this clause the countryside will be taken over by a minority of
Maltese people who will chase everyone off their trapping site. The
Maltese will not be allowed their right to enjoy the countryside.
Those who own bird
collections must declare them to the police and the birds registered
before an ultimatum declared to the police. These collections can be kept
when declared to the police and those who possess live protected birds
should report them to be released. Already three years passed since these
regulations have been enforced but no dates have been established for the
registration and reporting of the stuffed birds. Unless an ultimatum is
issued both the regulations and the amendments are simply lip-service to
the bird protection.
A new amendment was
added to the regulations that scientific studies are to be carried out on
bird migration and on the effects of shooting and trapping. This will
enable the laws on shooting to be regulated according to the results.
Contrary to this new clause several studies on migration and bird
populations have been published. Results show that Malta is an important
route for certain species whose populations are affected by trapping and
shooting. Migration routes vary, so the number of birds shot in one year
doesn't always affect bird population in the same way. For example, turtle
doves do not always take the same route. Malta is a minor route for some
species, so the number killed will not affect the whole population, but
the passing birds over the island may be the total population coming from
a particular region. Excessive shooting will then affect the population of
that particular region. The evidence is clear and all governments who
ignore these facts have obvious ulterior motives.
To conclude, these
amendments allow hunters and trappers a total of 203 days of shooting and
trapping, which is bad enough. The Labour government amendments rewarded
the hunters an incredible 356 days out of 365 days every year. The
Nationalist Party who designed the regulations and now in opposition
hardly defended the regulations they introduced. Hunting was a major
electoral issue and votes were lost by one party and won by the other. Any
further comments are superfluous.
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The future of the
Cory`s shearwater, one of the four main breeding birds of the Maltese
island, is not very bright. This has been stated by John J. Borg, who for
the last fourteen years has been studying the breeding behaviour of the
Cory`s shearwater of the Maltese island. He found out that both the number
of breeding birds as well as their breeding success is getting lower and
lower.
Out of the 155 nest
sites under observation since l983, Mr. Borg discovered that only 48 are
occupied this year. The previous year only 15 chicks fledged successfully.
Mr. Borg, who is a
researcher for BirdLife (Malta) told us that "Maltese shearwaters have the
highest mortality rate in the Mediterranean" His findings indicate that
whereas the survival rate for adult birds is 77 per cent in other
countries 90 per cent. this is very significant, considering that
shearwaters are known to live up to 25 years.
In spite of these
being protected birds, Mr. Borg says that shearwaters are often killed at
the nest site by fishermen who also have bird hunting licenses. They then
proceed to pluck a dozen underwing feathers which are used as fishing
bait. The problem of shooting birds from seacrafts, especially at this
time of the year, also plays a role in diminishing the numbers of
shearwaters. Mr. Borg is convinced that it is such disturbance that is
diminishing the bird population, as nest sites situated in accessible
areas are occupied year after year by the same pairs.
Mr. Borg continued
that there are nest sites which have been occupied by the same pair for
the past 11 years, while at other areas, nest sites are occupied for three
year at the most. In many sites, a number of nests are vacant while others
are occupied by different pairs each year.
During the second
half of the month of August, when fishing for the popular fish called
Lampuka (dolphin fish), a large number of birds arrived at our injured
bird hospital suffering from gun shot injuries.
After several
personal appeals on radio stations, very recently we had a record number
of injured Cory`s shearwater for this time of the year since we started
looking after injured bird nine years ago. One fisherman brought in seven
injured birds and he claimed that he saw several others which laid death
on the surface of the sea. Another fisherman collected another three.
Valletta Radio (the national marine radio station) contacted us to inform
us that a part time fisherman will be bringing injured birds. The same
person reported a number of others that they could not collect from the
water a some death ones. These were collected from about five kilometers
away from the shore in the Northern part of the island of Malta. Two
Cory`s shearwaters were found next to the shore at St. Thomas Bay. One of
these had a broken wing, whilst the other was unharmed. All these were
found in a span of fifteen days during the second week of August and the
last week of the month. The worst of all was arrivals was a Cory`s
shearwater which arrived to our hospital with a broken wing and all coated
with fluorescent paint. This act of vandalism took place following the
publication of a story in a local newspaper. The way the bird was coated
in paint indicated that this was done deliberately. If the bird sat on the
water where the paint was spilled, the upper parts would not have been
painted. Because of their sense of smell shearwaters seldom suffer in
cases of oil spill. The probability is that the bird was first shot, then
sprayed with paint and after let free running in the town were Mr. Borg
lives. In spite of treatment the bird died from the paint it swallowed
when it tried to preen the offensive substance away and ended up ingesting
the poisonous paint. During this period of the year seashooting is
illegal. These species cannot be shot at even during the open season
because they are local breeding birds.
Very recently the
Minister responsible for the environment amended the local regulations
regarding sea shooting. The season now starts in October and comes to end
on the last day of February.
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Environment Minister
George Vella is prepared to consider formal requests to declare protected
any species of birds which breed in Malta and are still unprotected by
law. Dr.Vella`s remarks were made in response to a parliamentary question
by labour MP Dr. Adrian Vassal, who is a hunter, and a member of the
hunting association, who asked whether steps had been taken against
newspapers who published photographs of breeding birds new to Malta.
In his reply Dr.
Vella said that it was illegal to disturb birds, but no action is taken
when educational and scientific activities are carried out, in which birds
are not harmed at all. The Minister concluded that there are other ways
how nests can be disturbed and these include the theft of nests or young
from their nests.
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The Administrative
law enforcement police very lately confiscated three nests with 13 young
blue rock thrushes from a private house in Marsa. The Blue Rock Thrush is
the national bird of Malta and a protected species. The Blue Rock Thrush
is well know for its song. The birds were being kept and looked after by
International Animal Rescue (Malta) who are licensed by the Department for
the environment to take care of injured wildlife. Dr. Adrian Vassallo, MP
and hunter, asked the Minster of environment about these birds. The
Minister answered that he knew of any particular case he is duty bound to
report the case to the police. Dr. Vassallo stated that blue rock thrushes
were so attached to the place where they are raised that if one changed
its cage or the place where it lived it would die. He then asked what is
best: to hand these birds to the department or environment which in turn
releases them to face certain death or to keep them in captivity where
they could die just the same. the Minister answered that, although birds
released into the wild from captivity can face certain problems, this does
not justify keeping them illegally. He added that, apart from these 13
birds, the Department of environment released another six adults which
were confiscated from different individuals. In our opinion Dr. Adrian
Vella was trying to find out a way how to defend an illegal act by an
irresponsible person. The case of these 13 Blue Rock Thrushes was brought
before the court. In our opinion it was not well presented. The only
witness in this case was a police officer who said that they confiscated
13 Blue Rock Thrushes from a private house. The defense said that his
client found the birds in a nest on a tree (our comment: Blue Rock
Thrushes breed only in cliffs) full of ants and he took them home to save
them (this was a story invented by the defense because the birds were of
different age, and a Blue Rock Thrush never breeds 13 eggs, this is very
elementary and learned at schools at the age of nine as part of the social
studies). The magistrate responsible did not find the accused guilty. In
our opinion this is a set back in the work of the ALE police. The
prosecution is being urged to appeal the sentence.
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International Animal
Rescue Malta has been chosen by Hawkshead Ltd., who are responsible for
the production of a TV feature on birds in Malta for the popular series
ABSOLUTELY ANIMALS on Channel Four television. The producer, Russell
Barnes, and his camera crew, together with reporter Wendy turner, were in
Malta in mid-April. Max Farrugia, our chairman in Malta, was responsible
for making all the necessary contacts in Malta. According to Russell
Barnes, Max did an excellent job for the production. "We faxed him what we
wanted to do and at a very short notice he was able to make all the
necessary work. he managed to make arrangements with the administrative
Law enforcement, the Director of environment, a priest, and a hunter." The
documentary, which will be screen on Channel four in late June or early
July, is in a form of interviews with all those involved. They all give
their views on the situation in Malta. The producers also visited the
Injured Bird Hospital in Malta which forms part of International Animal
Rescue. They could see for themselves the number of injured birds of
different species. Prior to this the Director of environment took them
round the stores of the Department for the protection of Environment where
they could see several freezers packed with birds mostly protected, which
were confiscated by the Administrative Law enforcement and his department
from illegal taxidermists. They were also shown hundreds of stuffed birds.
Russell Barnes
commented that from what they saw in Malta they can now see the extent of
the hunting problem in Malta and how difficult the work of the
Administrative Law Enforcement Police and the Department of Environment
is, because of the limited manpower and equipment. He added that the only
problem they had whilst in Malta was that they could not go out on the
boat which I.A.R. donated to the police to curb down illegal hunting at
sea. The reason for this was the bad weather which hit the Maltese islands
during the four days of filming. At times the wind was gale force seven.
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The Administrative
Law Enforcement Police and Inspectors from the Department for the
Protection of Environment, acting on reliable information, continued to
intercept a number of illegal cargoes of wildlife that was being imported
in Malta.
Because of the quick
and coordinated action taken, five cargoes of terrapins from Libya were
confiscated by the police and the culprits charged with the illegal
importation and cruelty to animals. In all more than 200 tortoises were
confiscated. some other tortoises were confiscated when some Libyans tried
to sell the terrapins at the Valletta market on Sunday. A number of these
tortoises were illegal sold to pet shops who were also selling them
illegally. In all cases the culprits were found guilty and fined. In the
case of the Libyans they were given a two year suspended jail sentence and
expelled from Malta. Apart from the tortoises, a number of snakes,
iguanas, and protected mammal and birds species were also imported. In
some of the cases court action is still pending, waiting for judgment.
International Animal
Rescue Malta on several occasions informed the authorities concerned about
these illegal importations and also investigated the cases.
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Once more I.A.R.
Malta is investigating illegal hunting in Egypt. The story started off
about 8 years ago when a local company used to organise hunting tours to
Egypt. These resulted in a slaughter of thousands of protected species. A
campaign was organised. A considerable number of hunters who managed to
pass through the Egyptian customs unnoticed with their catch were stopped
in Malta and had the birds confiscated. This led to several protests with
the Egyptian authorities and the result was that they were going to
control the Maltese hunters. In a letter which the Undersecretary of State
for Environment Affairs has sent to Malta it was stated that Mr. Fouad
Sultan, the Minister of Tourism, appreciated our concern over the
destruction of bird life which was occurring in Egypt by foreign hunters.
He also added that a letter was sent to the Ministry of Interior,
requesting this Ministry not to give permits to Maltese Hunters to bring
guns into the country. The letter continued that all the permits from the
Ministry of Interior must be approved first by an official at the Ministry
of Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism will try to implement rules regulating
sport hunting by foreigners. The agents and hunters who break the rules
will be penalized.
This only worked for
a short time. At present the destruction is becoming more and more
evident. Instead of one tour operator, now about six travel agents are
organising these tours, apart from the case that a number of hunters are
organising hunting tours on individual basis. I.A.R (Malta) took the
opportunity very recently to protest officially with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Egypt during the Euro-Mediterrean conference which was
held in Malta. Security measures did not allow the representatives from
I.A.R. to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs personally, but managed to
pass on to him a protest letter of what is happening in Egypt, through a
third person. According to our source, the Minister admitted that they
have a lot of problems at the moment about the hunting, not by the Maltese
hunters only. I.A.R. is determined to continue to fight this battle until
the authorities will solve the problem. Action is being taken with the
authorities in Egypt.
It is worth
mentioning that during the same week of this conference the custom
authorities and the Administrative Law Enforcement Police confiscated
three luggages full of protected birds which were abandoned by the owners
when they realised that a search was going to take place. No one claimed
the luggages, but the police authorities are still investigating. It is
reliably understood that some of the Maltese hunters are leaving the guns
in Egypt with some friends and being used when they are on the hunt. This
story is being investigated by a I.A.R. team and others who specialise in
environmental investigations.
The boat which was
purchased by International Animal Rescue purposely for the Administrative
Law Enforcement Police arrived in Malta during the first week in October.
Being election time it was decided to make the official presentation after
the election, but it went into service only a week after its arrival. All
the necessary arrangements were made by the Department for the Protection
of Environment and the Administrative Law Enforcement so that it will be
cleared from customs as soon as possible. It was then taken to the stores
at Pembroke.
The necessary
arrangements were being made for the official presentation. John Hicks was
coming over to Malta for this occasion but unfortunately he had other
animal welfare work in the African continent.
The presentation was
made during a reception given by the Administrative Law Enforcement Police
at Pembroke. Due a last minute hick the Minister of Environment could not
make it and it was officially presented to Inspector Peter Cordon who at
that time was the head of the ALE
In a speech for the
occasion Max Farrugia, our chairman in Malta, said that he was presenting
the boat on behalf of John Hicks, the international Executive Director,
who was not able to make to Malta because he had other work in Tunisia.
Max said that the boat was promised about two years ago, but because of
the bureaucratic systems in Malta it took all the time to be delivered. An
agreement was made between the Department of Environment and International
Animal Rescue in June l996. Max added that the boat will be of great help
to the police because they needed it badly for their work, and this for
sure will be of great benefit to curb down the slaughter of birds amongst
other environmental problems at sea.
Inspector Peter
Cordina thanked John Hicks for this boat and he said that for sure it will
serve to better their working conditions at sea. He described the boat as
the fastest and most modern equipment they have and they can catch up with
several cases of law breaking at sea even during rough weathers. He said
that the boat is as powerful as that owned by the hunters who go out at
sea shooting. We now can have better control of the situation. This is not
a crusade against the hunters, as some tried to give the impression, but
we want to stop the illegal shooting and bring the culprits to court.
Following the presentation the hunters' association issued a press release
critisizing the Minister of Environment for accepting the boat from
International Animal Rescue.
At present I.A.R.
(MALTA) is the animal welfare group which has a permit to look after
injured wildlife, whilst the Marine Life Care Group has also a permit to
care for marine mammals. The work which is being done by both our groups
is so much appreciated by all those concerned that official sources passes
all the injured fauna to I.A.R. Birds continued coming in especially
during the open season. It is at this time of the year that hunters shoot
anything that flies. The close season and nature reserves are well
patrolled by the ALE police. The number of birds received during the close
season was less than the previous year, and this showed a considerable
improvement. We cannot but say the same for the open season. During the
open season birds continued to reach our hospital more or less on the same
average of the previous year. The same species continued to be killed:
mainly birds of prey, herons, shorebirds and even hurindines. The police
continued to enforce the law, but it seems that the hunters never learn.
The battle is still on, but it will take time to be won. This year we had
also several other wildlife casualties such as hedgehogs, chameleons,
snakes, wild hares, and last but not least weasels. With the case of
hedgehogs we had both adults and orphans. It was the first time we had
orphans, and with the help of Tiggywinkles hospital we were able to save
them all. Chameleons and snakes we released after first aid. The case of
the weasels are different. We had two weasels. These are very rare species
on the island but it seems that they are on the increase again. One of the
weasels was caught by a cat. This was not a new born baby but could easily
fend for itself. This was first aided and released once more. The weasels
was large enough to eat on its own. The second case was a weasel which was
less than a week. We did not have any knowledge how to look after these
orphans. We sent faxes abroad and the first to answer was John Hicks who,
apart from sending us a lot of information, also sent us powdered milk for
this orphan. It seemed to us if we had a baby. we had to wake up two or
three times during the night to give it the feed, child up the bedding
twice or three times a day. This took more than three weeks until it
started feeding by itself. This was a new experience which although we had
to sacrifice several nights it still gave us pleasure. The Administrative
Law Enforcement Police have passed on to us 13 chicks of the Blue Rock
Thrush, which is the national bird of Malta. The chicks were confiscated
from the house of a poacher. The chicks were stolen from three different
nests. These chicks ranged between few days up to a couple of weeks.
Looking after orphan birds and mammals is a totally new concept of the
hospital. This is a very hectic and tiresome job owing to the fact that
continuous attention has to be given to the orphaned fauna.
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At present in Malta
we have four hunting associations, three of which are splinter groups of
the main body. Two splits occurred some three years ago, whilst the fourth
group is a new split which is only months old. Although three of these
still have the same basic ideas about hunting and the membership is
practically opened to everybody, a fourth one has totally different ideas.
This group is called St. Huber Hunters. Membership is very restricted and
before you become a member of the group you have to be approved by the
council by two thirds majority. The main of the new group is to unite
hunters together and that they will be an example of gentleman hunters to
others. They are bound to obey the laws and regulations and abide with the
traditional hunting. The game birds caught must be collected and not left
in agony in the fields. No automatic weapons are to be used. No one is to
shoot at a bird when not in flight. Game birds are to be shot from at
least 150 feet away and the hunter must be sure that the bird is going to
be hit. The hunter is to be fit in shooting by practicing on targets
during the close season. The hunter is to contribute to the environment.
This group is promoting legal hunting and traditional style too. If any
member will not observe these rules will be removed from the association
for life. Very lately I.A.R. Malta had several meetings with a
representative of this group and we discussed various items. We also
agreed to give advises to each other if the need arises. More meeting are
to be held in the coming future.