The FKNK hunters' federation has called for legal action against BirdLife Malta after it published a picture of a Golden Plover in a tiny cage.

The picture accompanied a press reliease in which BirdLife called for closure of the bird trapping season, a call also made by CABS last week.

In a reaction, the FKNK said BirdLife Malta and CABS must be at the end of their line and totally unsure what to come up with next in their struggle to try to abolish the 'local traditional socio-cultural passion of live-bird capturing'.

"BirdLife have today stooped so low as to publish a pitiful photo wherein a golden plover is seen severely restrained in a small cage which is normally used for much smaller-sized birds.

"Trappers will never permit such cruelty, and therefore the Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) draws the immediate attention of all responsible authorities against animal cruelties so that the necessary legal action is instituted against BirdLife Malta. Action, that in the FKNK's opinion should already be brought about just for publication of said photo."

The federation said the latest attack on trappers, further confirmed its view that these 'protectionists' were undertaking such manoeuvres for various reasons including an attempt to justify trespassing and deliberate damage on private property and because CABS and BirdLife Malta, may be under the impression that they could influence the European Court of Justice in the bird-trapping case against Malta that has been instituted by the EU Commission.

"Finally, the FKNK expects that these incidents, including this instance of cruelty to animals, are investigated and any necessary legal action taken forthwith, with the same intensity and seriousness as are normally investigated any alleged illegality of hunting and trapping incidents," the federation said.