Watch: 'Shameful' - Falcon shot down mid-show in front of tourists, owner

Updated Sunday 5.40pm with police investigation confirmed

A falconer and tourists on Saturday morning looked on in disbelief as a peregrine tiercel that had just graced the skies in front of them was shot and injured in Għar Lapsi.

Vallette is eight years old. Photo: Lawrence Formosa

Vallette had just taken off from Lawrence Formosa's hand and was resting on a structure not far from where his owner was talking to two American tourists.

One of the tourists had just told Formosa that watching the falcons up so close, and then seeing them grace the skies was "the best thing she ever did in her life".

It was when the bird took flight again that they heard three consecutive shots.

Vallette did not return to Formosa, so the falconer, of Sharp Sight Falconry, went in search of him, and found him on a wall injured in his foot, tummy and wing. 

He could immediately tell the eight-year-old bird was traumatised, he later told Times of Malta.

This is the fifth time, in his 25 years as a falconer, that he witnessed birds being shot at in front of his own eyes. 

One was shot at on two instances, and he was unfortunately unable to recover her the second time. He found another one dead, and another falcon could not be traced after it was shot down.

Vallette's broken foot. Photo: Lawrence Formosa

He says that around 30 birds of prey, owned by falconers like himself, had disappeared in 15 years.

"Can you imagine watching your pets being shot at and killed in front of your own eyes?

"I call them my never-growing children, because no matter how old they get, they never leave me - they remain with me."

"Today's incident was shameful - Vallette was shot at in front of high-quality tourists," he said, adding that the cause was "egoism and greed" driven by the taxidermy business.

He had high praise for the police's Environmental Protection Unit, whose officers he said turned up on site within 10 minutes. 

On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed with Times of Malta that investigations are ongoing.

Photo: Lawrence Formosa

On Facebook, Formosa called it "another black day for our family and for falconry in Malta".

"I am deeply saddened to say that the situation in our country has become unbearable - nearly all falconers have given up because of these repeated incidents."

He is hopeful Vallette will recover.

BirdLife Malta's Mark Sultana shared Formosa's post on Facebook.

"Hunting is an activity that hinders hobbies such as walks in the countryside, photography and bird observation, and now also falconery," Sultana said. 

'This is not hunting'

Kaċċaturi ta’ San Ubertu on Sunday morning unreservedly condemned the "despicable act", which the organisation said was "totally unrelated to hunting that has caused harm to everyone, not least to hunters and trappers".

The organisation expressed solidarity with Formosa and urged anyone who has any information that could help catch the "ignorant vandal", to pass that information to the police.

Ian Borg condemns incident

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg condemned the incident while speaking at a Labour Party activity in Cospicua about protecting local traditions like hunting and village feasts.

Borg said the government was there to defend “responsible” hobbyists.

“Even he has a hobby,” Borg said of falconer Formosa.