The Maltese government suspended the island's controversial hunting season Saturday, in the wake of the shooting of a number of protected birds, dpa reported.
The surprise announcement comes a day after a protected migratory
white stork was shot on the Mediterranean island, prompting outrage
among activists.
'This should be a warning to everybody,' the government said in a
statement.
'It should, in particular, serve for the responsible hunters to
increase their collaboration with the police and help them catch
these criminals, some of whom are making money while spoiling other
people's pastime,' it said.
Hunters' organizations said the decision to suspend the hunting
season until the migration season ends on October 10 amounted to
collective punishment because of a few mistakes made by individuals.