Malta – 31. 07. 2025

Malta´s worst poacher convicted – again!

31.07.2025

The court in Valletta today announced its verdict in the case against a poacher who was caught by a committee team in September 2022 with a huge illegal collection of protected birds. 

Following our report, the police conducted a search of his hunting grounds in Għaxaq and found a net trap and aviaries containing a total of 137 protected birds. These included 16 common sandpipers, 3 black-winged stilts and other wading birds. At noon today, the judge sentenced the man to one year's imprisonment, suspended, and a fine of 1,000 euros. The birds were released into a nature reserve a few days after the raid. The defendant is a prominent repeat offender who has already served time in prison for illegally shooting mute swans in January 2002. 

Links to our press release and a video on the case here.