“All this is happening as enforcement resources are struggling to keep up with reports, especially at sea where police patrols are absent,” BirdLife said. Other species targeted over the past month as the autumn hunting season progressed, included a Short-toed Snake-Eagle shot down at sea, Black and White Storks and other eagle species that are all highly targeted for taxidermy. A Czech Black Kite, a rehabilitated Honey-buzzard and a colour-ringed Lesser Spotted Eagle were amongst the studied birds that vanished over Malta, as illegal hunting on land as well as at sea continues to take its toll on protected species. In October, BirdLife Malta said that a number of GPS-tracked and colour-ringed highly-protected birds of prey tracked to study their migration, had disappeared as they arrived in Malta. Malta’s problem of illegal hunting continues, with the hunting lobby FKNK having to issue public statements telling its members they are not allowed to shoot domestic or racing pigeons. The police tracked down his car in Mosta, where a search of the residences in the area led to the poacher’s arrest. The poacher was witnessed by observers as he left the scene of the crime in a car. The killing took place at Qalet Marku, near Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, on Saturday 11 November.

A 31-year-old Mosta man was arrested on Sunday and is expected to be charged with killing a flamingo, a protected species.

Cartoon flamingo in house