Kaċċaturi San Ubertu yesterday called on Birdlife to stop using injured birds for what it called propaganda purposes, adding this caused unnecessary suffering to birds already traumatised.

“Maltese law punishes hunters severely for any transgression, yet, the authorities infallibly close an eye when Birdlife activists hold public protests with injured, protected birds on the steps of Castille or when group photos of injured birds are presented to the media,” it said.

The hunters’ organisation said it considered the exploitation of protected birds, whether by so-called hunters or by those against hunting, as an equal offence and called upon the authorities to apply the law without favour.