Photo: Malta Ranger UnitThe heavy use of illegal bird callers by bird trappers has been keeping the Malta Ranger Unit’s rangers busy in recent days, with the absence of adequate enforcement – particularly in Gozo – making it hard for such illegalities to be addressed.
Illegal trapping at the Majjistral Park
On Tuesday, the MRU reported the discovery of illegal electronic callers at the boundary of the Il-Majjistral Park, which it said were being particularly used at night time – when all forms of trapping are illegal in any case.
The police were called, but the callers went off as soon as the police drove into the area.
The poacher’s attempt to hide the callers in a room, however, was carried out in full view of rangers.
The MRU pledged to continue monitoring the site and other sites notorious for the complete disregard to environmental regulations.
“Not only are they resulting in unsustainable trapping, they are also a nuisance to people out in nature or living nearby.
Photo: Malta Ranger UnitIllegal callers in Gozo on New Year’s Eve
The rangers patrolling in Gozo – an island where enforcement of environmental regulations is even weaker than in Malta due to the absence of Environmental Protection Unit police – were kept busy on New Year’s Eve, when they identified loud callers being used near trapping sites in the San Blas area, limits of Nadur.
In the absence of any dedicated EPU police, police from the Victoria station went on site, but failed to find the callers.
“This is very common, both in Gozo and Malta, due to the challenge to catch offenders red-handed before they hide the devices or switch them off,” the MRU observed.
It stressed that it had long insisted with the government – not least environment minister Miriam Dalli – that Gozo needed EPU police on patrol to address widespread illegalities, but these appeals have all fallen on deaf ears.
“We hope that 2026 will be a year when environmental protection will be given the priority it deserves, and not only a tick-box exercise,” it said.
In the meantime, its rangers will do their utmost to fill the gap, monitoring Malta and Gozo throughout the holidays – night and days – and report any illegalities they spot to the authorities.
