Malta’s only amphibian has its Rabat home, a one-kilometre water channel, restored - via Herp Digest

Government agency Ambjent Malta planning to restore Wied Liemu valley channel to its original state after Painted frog populations suggested decline due to destruction of habitat

August 16, 2019, by James Debonno, MaltaToday

  

Urbanisation threats to an indigneous frog population has forced the environment agency Ambjent Malta to carry out rehabilitation works by hand at the Wied Liemu water channel in Rabat.

The painted frog is Malta’s only amphibian but the species has shown a worrying decline with the biggest threat coming from the destruction of its habitat.

Government agency Ambjent Malta is now planning to restore the one-kilometre-long Wied Liemu to its original state through the manual removal of silt, the repair of channel walls and the construction of arches using local globigerina limestone.

Wied Liemu is an upstream tributary that flows into the Wied il-Fiddien and Wied il-Qlejjgħa valleys

Due to lack of maintenance, the channel is silted up leading to localised flooding that results into exacerbated soil loss from the adjacent agricultural land.

Most parts of the channel walls are damaged and some sections of the walls have practically disappeared.

The channel is inhabited by ruderal plants and numerous specimen of the painted frog (Discoglossus pictus).

The presence of these frogs means that works have to be carried out in a meticulous manner to limit any impact on the amphibians.

  

(They didn’t ID this frog, but since it so different from the painted frog shown above I have to assume it is the Levant water frog, an invasive species threatening the painted frog.)

  

The biggest threat for the frog in Malta comes from the destruction of its habitat

The removal of material will be carried out manually and using handheld tools to lessen the impact on the fauna and limit damage to the existing structures.

Ambjent Malta will also ensure that interventions will be carried out during the summer period, when the channel dries out and the frogs retreat into damper places away from the exposed parts.

The rehabilitation of this valley will also include the replacement of various concrete bridges with arched limestone ones.

The painted frog inhabits several Mediterranean countries but the species found locally is only present in Malta and Sicily. This species is, however, showing a worrying decline.

The biggest threat for the frog in Malta comes from the destruction of its habitat.

The highest numbers of frogs occur at Chadwick Lakes.

Chadwick Lakes also provides the highest number of adjacent suitable habitats and a higher possibility for migration of the species to other locations.

The frog population at Tal-Wej in Mosta is the most vulnerable since the area and its catchment is almost totally surrounded by urbanisation, eliminating any possibility for the species to migrate to adjacent areas.

Lower precipitation is considered as a major threat to the species. Another probable threat is the use of pesticides that poison the creature and its food. The painted frog is also facing the threat of alien amphibian species that could push it out of its habitat.

This has happened in some sites in Gozo where an alien species, the Levant water frog, was introduced some years ago.

Malta bans animal circus acts

The Maltese government has banned all animal circus acts, domestic or wild, in Malta. It is the 28th nation to ban animal acts, and follows Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece and Cyprus.

The Amendments to its Animal Welfare Act were signed into law by the President of Malta on October 21. 

Myriam Kirmond, chairperson of the Animal Rights Group in Malta, told The Dodo the victory came after years of campaigning and protesting. 

“We organised protests, met up with the Prime Minister, appeared on TV and media in general and done school educational programmes, so that the children and general public will be aware of the actual life these poor animals are living and at what cost to entertain us,” she says.

Continued ...

'CATS WILL BE KILLED IF THEY ARE FED AGAIN'

A concerned Marsascala resident sent in this photo, taken in Triq is-Sliem, and expressed his disdain at the “menacing words” used by the writer to threaten people who take care of stray cats in the area.

Many people, he wrote, feed and neuter stray animals through personal sacrifice, and should not be threatened for what they do.

What is written on the carboard is that the cats will all be killed if anyone feeds them again.

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-08-19/news/threats-against-people-who-feed-cats-in-marsascala-2365882368/

Maltese hunters start annual autumn massacre - Where are the police?

Illegal hunters take advantage of lax enforcement on first days of hunting season

September 2012. BirdLife Malta today announced that there were no ALE units patrolling the countryside on the opening weekend of Malta's autumn hunting season, and the organization has already started receiving shot protected birds.

BirdLife Malta received an adult Night Heron and a juvenile Bee-eater, both protected species, on Saturday, the first day of the autumn hunting season. A veterinary surgeon confirmed that both protected birds had sustained gunshot wounds.

This morning BirdLife Malta received the third injured protected bird since the start of the season, a juvenile Marsh Harrier, with visible gunshot injuries. The bird has been taken to vet and the authorities have been informed.

Despite a government statement last week that police would "monitor closely the observance of hunting regulations and conditions", Administrative Law Enforcement officers were assigned to other duties.

Since the migration started in August, BirdLife Malta has reported 18 active illegal trapping sites to police, targeting protected species from Wood Sandpipers to Grey Herons. Half of these illegal trapping sites had already been reported to the police last year.

The ALE were unavailable to respond to any of the incidents of illegal trapping reported by BirdLife Malta teams, referring all calls to the Local or District police. The lack of specifically trained officers lead to police failing to locate live decoy birds, neglecting to remove nets or to confiscate illegal tape lures which play calls to attract birds.

When BirdLife Malta's surveillance teams revisited the areas only a few days later the sites were again actively trapping and targeting protected birds.

"This demonstrates, yet again, the falsity of claims that hunting and trapping law is strictly enforced by the Maltese authorities", said Mr Barbara, adding that BirdLife Malta has long been calling for a dedicated wildlife crime unit to deal with illegal hunting and trapping both during and outside hunting seasons.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/autumn-migration-malta.html#cr

Malta’s only Peregrines shot by hunters

Maltese Falcon feared gunned down by poachers

July 2012. Bird-watchers and conservationists fear for the fate of a male Peregrine Falcon (also known as the Maltese Falcon) residing in Gozo, after an organised illegal hunting attempt from land and sea was witnessed at Ta' Cenc cliffs in Gozo.

During an evening boat trip attended by 120 BirdLife Malta members to watch rafting Cory's Shearwaters off Ta' Cenc, attendees were alerted by shots fired from the cliffs. Witnesses saw three men with a shotgun in a speedboat below Ta' Cenc cliffs who appeared to be coordinating with another two men on the cliffs, one of whom was also armed with a shotgun.

BirdLife members reported the illegal hunting incident to the Armed Forces of Malta, who arrived with a patrol boat within five minutes. The poachers fled the scene at great speed heading towards Xlendi as soon as the AFM vessel was seen approaching.

Mate ‘disappeared' in May
The targeted bird is one of a resident pair that had been seen regularly at Ta' Cenc until May of this year when the female of the pair was reportedly killed by illegal hunters. It is now feared that the male has also been killed.

The Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus brookei, became synonymous with Malta in 1530, when the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ceded the islands to the Knights of St. John in exchange for one Maltese Falcon per year.

Regular breeder until killed by poachers in 1980s
The Peregrine Falcon was a regular breeder in Malta, until the last pair was killed by poachers in the 1980's. Since then Peregrine Falcons have only made sporadic appearances along the more remote cliffs of the Maltese Islands.

"When the incentive to kill a unique specimen like the Peregrine Falcon outweighs the penalties faced in court, poachers go to the extremes of organised crime. It is evident that the alleged efforts of the government to clamp down on illegal hunting are failing, with birds such as the Maltese Falcon being prevented from making a comeback due to illegal shooting," said Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/malta-peregrine.html#cr

Malta hunting committee ignoring science, conservation and the EU

BirdLife Malta calls for resignation of hunting regulatory committee chairman

March 2012. Malta - In a letter sent to the chairman of the Malta Ornis Committee, BirdLife Malta called for the resignation of Mr. Louis Cilia, following his surprise submission of a proposal for the opening of an extended spring hunting as well as a trapping season.

Only two days before today's scheduled meeting of the Ornis committee, Mr. Cilia sent his recommendations to the committee members, giving scant time for consideration of the document.

Lack of basic realization of the facts and understanding of conservation science
In its immediate reaction to Mr. Cilia's recommendations BirdLife Malta wrote, "You, as the Ornis Chairman, in your current capacity to draft recommendations for a spring hunting and trapping derogation in 2012, lack a basic realization of the facts and understanding of conservation science and EU legislation concerning the conservation of wild birds."

In his proposal Mr. Cilia recommends the opening of a spring hunting season, although to this date the Carnet De Chasse figures for last autumn have not yet been published. Under the government's legal notice 113 of 2011, which sets out the general framework for spring hunting, the opening of a spring hunting season for Turtle Dove and Quail is dependent on the number of birds of these species killed during the preceding autumn season.

Mr. Cilia, prior to the Carnet de Chasse numbers from autumn 2011 being made available, is also recommending the spring quota be set at the maximum allowable number for both species and the extension of the season by three days compared to 2011. In addition he proposes the complete removal of any daily bag limits previously established as a strict supervision condition.

Read on:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/malta-hunt-eu.html

‘Brave’ Maltese hunters slaughtering Bee-eaters and other protected birds

CABS discovers carcasses of protected migrant birds September 2011. Members of the German-based Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) have discovered the corpses of numerous dead migrant birds shot by poachers on the Dwejra Lines, an old fortification in Malta.

CABS stated that the find consisted of 7 freshly-shot Bee-eaters, two Swifts, a Sardinian Warbler and the remains of two Marsh Harriers. All four species are strictly protected on Malta. In addition the corpses of several racing pigeons were found, one of them wearing the ring of a local racing pigeon club.

The birds were at the bottom of defensive ditch, some 5 metres deep, constructed by the British in the 19th Century. In this area hunters had been observed on several occasions in the past few days shooting at protected species. Some of these incidents were also filmed by a CABS patrol. The video material and the dead birds were handed over to the Malta environmental police unit ALE. Criminal proceedings are being initiated. "

According to CABS, some 200 metres of the densely overgrown and often almost impenetrable ditch was searched. "We believe that many more dead birds can be found in the ditch" says CABS press officer Axel Hirschfeld. "A search of the rest of the fortifications will only be possible with the help of professional climbing equipment".

6 teams
The Committee Against Bird Slaughter has been operating on Malta since 9 September in the framework of their autumn bird protection camp - Operation Safe Voyage. CABS civil liaison officer David Conlin comments: "We deploy six teams to the countryside daily, working closely with the ALE as usual".

Illegal decoys and guns
Although autumn bird migration is still far from its peak, the volunteer conservationists have already recorded numerous violations of Maltese Hunting Law and the European bird protection guidelines. These include the shooting at or killing of down of birds of prey, Swallows, Swifts, Bee-Eaters and other small song birds. Other offences registered are the use of electronic decoy devices and weapons capable of firing more than three shots in succession. Illegal hunting has also been observed taking place after 23:00 hrs and on Sunday afternoon.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/malta-holiday.html

Maltese hunters jailed for killing white storks

Prison for illegal stork hunters

July 2011, Malta. The law courts in Malta have sentenced a hunter to two years imprisonment and a €9,000 fine, and another to one year imprisonment and a €5000 fine, for targeting protected White Storks on the 18th May this year. All hunting licenses were permanently revoked for both individuals.

Both hunters were found guilty of contravening several sections of national hunting law including; hunting out of season, hunting protected birds, the use of illegal cartridges with large pellets and the use of an illegal irregular shotgun.

Previous convictions
In sentencing them the court also took into consideration the fact that in spite of both accused having several previous hunting convictions they persisted in hunting illegally.

One of the hunters was apprehended by two ALE (Maltese wildlife police) officers in Zurrieq with a dead stork and a loaded shotgun after the officers heard shots taken at a roosting flock of White storks and saw two of the birds being shot down. Another two hunters managed to escape the ALE. Two dead storks and a third injured and dying stork were recovered from the area.

The other hunter was seen with his shotgun in Madliena when several shots were fired at a large flock of White Storks and an eye witness gave his number plate to the police. He was later apprehended by the police, when he admitted chasing the storks seeking an opportunity to shoot at them, but denied shooting at them. A dead stork was recovered from Madliena the day after the incidents.

BirdLife Malta congratulates the ALE on their successful action in these incidents and today's prosecution.

"Enforcement in the field needs to be supported by effective court sentences like these if illegal hunting is to be controlled. BirdLife Malta is hopeful that future court sentences will increasingly serve as real deterrents to illegal hunting." concluded Mr Joseph Mangion, BirdLife Malta President.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/malta-poachers-jail.html#cr