Rangers launch crowdfund to beef up security after increase in threats
NGO says its members are routinely harassed in areas known for poaching
The Malta Ranger Unit has launched a crowdfunding campaign to hire security guards to accompany its rangers during certain times of the day.
The MRU was set up by volunteers in 2023 to look out for environmental crimes. According to the NGO, it receives around 3,000 reports a year, with around three-quarters confirmed as breaches of the law.
In a Facebook statement on Friday, the MRU said that in the past month, it had filed several police reports related to acts of intimidation, ranging from minor to severe.
On Thursday, "another report had to be filed after our Rangers suddenly found themselves being aggressively chased by a vehicle through a town in the west of Malta during dark hours,” the MRU said, adding it was being forced to make changes to its operations to carry out its duties safely.
“While we have seen great support from the public and had many successful cases, the frustration of the ones threatened by our operations is increasing.”
As a result, the NGO has started a fundraiser to go towards increasing security measures, including hiring security personnel to accompany rangers during “peak hours.”
“Rest assured that this is the last thing we would resort to. However, our Rangers' safety is what comes first.”
Speaking to Times of Malta, a spokesperson for the NGO said the most common act of intimidation was tailgating in areas known for poaching.
“We don’t do anything to escalate. Our first priority is to get out of the situation and head straight to a police station,” she said.
In June, the NGO launched a dedicated seaborne branch to help tackle what it calls an increasing number of reports of maritime illegalities.