A shocking video has emerged showing a flamingo bloodied and injured in Marsaxlokk after suffering a severe gunshot wound.

Yesterday, BirdLife Malta president Mark Sultana reported a young flamingo being shot down by hunters as it flew over a private field in Munxar.

The shootings appear to have continued, with Arnold Cassola reporting that shots were still being heard around an area in which some flamingos were spotted.

Malta’s protected birds could be set to face another massacre in the next few months after two birds were illegally shot down before the hunting season was even opened.

Over the past few days, a marsh harrier and a flamingo were shot at. The marsh harrier, which was found in a field near Gianpula in Rabat, was confirmed shot by the government’s vet.

The autumn hunting season opens for a total of five months of the year, running from 1st September to 31st January 2020. However, people still take it into their own hands to hunt down the trophies they desperately want.

In the past, Muscat’s government has taken stern action against illegal hunters. Following the referendum, Muscat twice suspended the hunting season without any recommendation from the Ornis Committee, first in September 2014 and then again in April 2015.

Since then, however, the government has failed to keep up its stern approach, despite continuing illegalities.

If you spot any protected birds in distress please reach out to BirdLife on 2134 7646 (or on 7925 5697 after office hours), or the Administrative Law Enforcement on 2122 4001​.