A Barn owl linked to a national reintroduction project was recovered with shotgun injuries in Dwejra, Gozo, on Saturday 7th February 2026, a week after the autumn hunting season closed, according to BirdLife Malta. The bird, identified through a closed ring, was found severely emaciated with a broken leg and later confirmed by veterinarians to have been shot.
BirdLife Malta said the owl bore a closed ring inscribed “BORP 10.0 24 014,” connecting it to the Barn-owl reintroduction initiative managed by the FKNK. The organisation reported that this is the second Barn owl from the same project to be recovered with gunshot injuries since November 2025.
Data from the recently published national Breeding Bird Atlas indicate that, despite reintroduction efforts launched in 2018, the Barn owl remains locally extinct as a breeding species in Malta. According to the data, illegal hunting continues to be cited as the principal factor, the same pressure that led to the species’ local extinction in the 1980s.
The FKNK’s project has recently secured a sixth round of funding under the Conservation of Wild Birds Fund. Authorities have awarded the federation a cumulative total of €80,000 for the initiative over the years.
In a statement, BirdLife Malta said that initiatives intended to involve hunters in conservation had not led to a measurable reduction in illegal hunting, describing some actions as public relations efforts. The organisation also criticised what it described as a lack of public condemnation of illegal activity.
BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said the historical impact of hunting on Malta’s bird populations includes the local extinction of several breeding species, including the Jackdaw, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Barn owl. He added that although kestrels and peregrine falcons still attempt to breed annually, successful nesting attempts are sometimes followed by illegal targeting of juveniles.
BirdLife Malta stated that illegal hunting not only hampers species reintroduction but also limits public opportunities to observe protected birds in the wild. The group called for stronger enforcement and accountability in wildlife protection.
Following veterinary treatment, the injured owl was returned to the FKNK, BirdLife Malta confirmed.
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