Maltese Falcon Poachers: European hunters endanger Egypt’s birds

Mongabay and TheShift co-published a set of edited versions of this investigation.

As the sun hung low over the Nile, casting golden ripples across the water, we navigated Lake Nasser. The air carried whispers of wings overhead, the soft rustle of migratory birds seeking refuge during their epic winter journey from Europe to Africa.

In January 2024, it was here, in these seemingly tranquil landscapes, that we began unraveling the tangled web of illegal bird hunting — a world where beauty and brutality collide.

Evidence was everywhere. In Malta, freezers filled with bird skins and carcasses were confiscated in raids, many tied directly to hunting expeditions in Egypt. The scenes were grotesque: a clash of cultures, politics and conservation.

Hashim Morsi, an Egyptian bird-watcher, recalled a shocking find in 2017. He discovered around 7,000 dead birds along an approximately 15-kilometer (9-mile) stretch near Port Said. Many bore the hallmarks of Maltese poaching: plastic wrapping bearing text in Maltese.

In a call with Mahmoud*, a veteran hunting guide, he told us that “Italian hunters usually want ducks. Maltese hunters are the ones who want different kinds. The Maltese hunters take everything in sight … even stray dogs if they get the chance. In Aswan, I had Maltese clients, and we did what we could there.”

From Aswan, our investigation took us deeper into Egypt’s rural heartlands, tracing a shadowy trail to Fayoum and beyond. There, The New Arab (TNA) uncovered the digital footprints of Maltese hunters flaunting their prized trophies. At the core of this grim enterprise lay taxidermy: rare birds, hunted and smuggled, are meticulously stuffed and mounted to serve as coveted status symbols adorning Maltese living rooms.

In a small café overlooking Lake Qarun, we met Moustafa*, a hunting guide whose words were both candid and chilling. “Flamingos and spoonbills — those are the birds they like,” he said of his Maltese clients. “You could be sitting by the water, and suddenly a gazelle shows up — you take the shot,” he added.

This investigation spanned continents and exposed the cracks in international conservation efforts. The environmental stakes are high in Egypt, whose skies are populated by nearly 500 migratory and resident bird species. As we delved deeper, the scale of the destruction became undeniable.

Millions of euros flowed from EU conservation funds to protect these species, only for them to be gunned down by Europeans in Egypt. This is the story of a network that thrives on the fringes of legality, where the flight of birds is shadowed by the human desire for conquest and possession.

With exclusive accounts from conservationists and hunting trip organizers, alongside public records of raids and arrests, this investigation highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to uphold global conservation commitments.

A tradition gone rogue: Inside Malta’s hunting culture

Malta’s hunting culture is complex, steeped in tradition, and increasingly contentious. Mark Falzon, professor of anthropology at the University of Malta, pointed to how the island’s geographical constraints and limited native species make migratory birds a prime target.

Malta boasts one of the world’s highest densities of hunters, with approximately 75 hunters per square kilometer of huntable land, or about 194 per square mile. “For many Maltese hunters, the desire to hunt drives them to find new frontiers,” said Brian Campbell, lecturer in anthropology at the University of Plymouth, U.K. Malta’s hunting issue, Campbell went on, is “a deeply polarized battleground where issues of sovereignty, conservation and national identity collide head-on.”

The European Union’s strict laws have prompted Maltese hunters to travel abroad, and Egypt is one of their favorite destinations. According to Campbell, hunters view these trips as “their version of heaven, a release of pent-up frustrations.”

“It started very much in poor times when people needed to hunt birds for food. And progressively it’s grown into something more of a hobby, [which comes with] a status,” said Nicholas Barbara, head of conservation at local NGO BirdLife Malta.

Berti Ferns, a conservation breeding manager who studied Maltese bird hunting regulations, pointed to the allure of predatory birds. “It’s a bit more charismatic, powerful, if you have a stuffed eagle in your home,” he told TNA.

According to Falzon, “it’s a bit like football fans: you can boast about having watched all the games live in different stadiums. There’s a profound social element to hunting, but it’s not just that. We shouldn’t underestimate the extent to which this is a passion.”

He explained that namra, a Maltese term describing an intense love for hunting, is what separates true hunters from mere hobbyists. “A real hunter is someone who makes sacrifices, wakes up early, and lives for the birds,” Falzon added.

Malta’s hunting lobby

Hunting in Malta isn’t just a cultural issue; it’s a potent political force. Clint Camilleri, the minister of Malta’s Gozo Island and reportedly a hunter and trapper who has overseen the cabinet’s hunting portfolio since 2020, has been accused of circumventing EU regulations.

“The politicians in Malta believe that they have to allow the hunters to do what they want purely because they want to be reelected again,” said Mark Sultana, CEO of BirdLife Malta.

Shortly before the June 2024 EU elections, Malta’s Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) issued a statement titled “Why Hunters and Trappers Must Vote in the European Elections,” underscoring the influence that members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would wield over the next five years on hunting regulations, species conservation and firearms legislation.

Six MEP candidates from the ruling Labour Party endorsed a pro-hunting manifesto promoted by the FKNK. One of the Labour candidates was Steve Ellul, whose uncle, Mario Ellul, was found guilty of breaching wildlife protection rules in 2022; he was fined 6,000 euros ($6,360 at the time) and had his taxidermy license suspended for two years. Kenneth Ellul, Steve’s cousin, was also fined 1,000 Maltese lira ($3,130) in 2007 for possessing the skins of protected birds.

TNA contacted Clint Camilleri, Steve, Mario, Joseph Cooper, a hunt organizer, and Kenneth Ellul, asking whether they believed Malta was home to a politically influential hunting lobby. We received no response in time for publication.

In a phone call to Mario Ellul’s home, our interlocutor hung up at the mention of hunting trips to Egypt.

Speaking with TNA, Falzon noted that a referendum a decade ago on spring hunting was one of only three referendums held in Malta in the last 40 years. “In Malta, a referendum is a very, very rare event,” he said. “Malta is not Switzerland … this is to give you a sense of how much of a political issue this is.”

On April 11, 2015, a coalition of environmental groups organized the referendum to abolish the spring hunting of turtledoves and quails: 50.44% of the voters favored maintaining spring hunting, while 49.56% stood against it.

The EU’s Birds Directive had played a significant role in pressuring Malta to regulate the hunting of turtledoves and quails, particularly during their spring migration.

Falzon described the FKNK as “a strong hunting lobby,” but he also acknowledged its dual role: championing hunters’ interests while regulating their activities. Officially, Falzon said, the organization doesn’t condone illegal hunting, and individuals convicted of breaking hunting laws risk losing their FKNK membership, effectively barring them from obtaining a hunting license.

However, he acknowledged that “there can be a difference between what you officially do [as the FKNK] and what you informally do.”

TNA contacted Lucas Micallef, the FKNK president, seeking comment on the federation’s political influence and regulatory role, and on the violations committed by Maltese hunters in Egypt. No response was received in time for publication.

Circumventing EU hunting laws

The European Union enforces strict hunting regulations to protect biodiversity in general and migratory bird species in particular.

According to Falzon, EU membership translated into rules that transformed the Maltese countryside into a monitored zone, under the watchful eye of conservation groups.

The hunters’ assaults against conservationists in Malta prove the extent to which they can go to protect their hobby. It’s a battleground where bullets fly, cars burn, and activists risk their lives. Decades of intimidation have seen gunshots fired at bird-watchers, arson attacks and ambushes.

BirdLife Malta’s Sultana underscored the motivation for hunters to seek foreign hunting grounds. “They go to Egypt and other countries to kill birds because they can do it in much larger numbers,” he said.

“In Malta, numbers have dwindled significantly. But in Africa, [where] these birds winter — and just before their northern migration — they’re easy targets,” Sultana said.

The reliance on social media also emerged as a critical enabler for these hunters.

Ferns, the researcher, highlighted how hunters connect across borders and share photos online, comparing trophies and exploits. “Maltese hunters can see what Egyptian hunters are doing,” he said, adding that they ask: “Why are we getting punished … when the birds can, in a few days’ time, go to another country where it’s almost like a free for all?”

Falzon highlighted the short-sighted approach of EU policies, since mobile species migrate without observing borders. “There is no point in protecting a mobile species at point A and killing it at point B,” he told TNA.

Falzon also emphasized the threat hunters pose to bird species resident in Egypt, in addition to migratory ones.

Infobox: EU hunting laws vs. Malta

European hunting laws are primarily governed by the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC), which mandates the conservation of all wild bird species that are native to the EU.

The directive prohibits hunting during critical periods such as migration and breeding, and strictly regulates the species that can be hunted. Exceptions are allowed only under strict conditions and must not harm the species’ conservation status.

The EU’s commitment extends to financing conservation projects under its LIFE Programme, which is aimed at restoring habitats and safeguarding migratory routes.

Nevertheless, the European Commission recognizes that the killing and trafficking of wild birds is still a major problem in the EU: “an estimated 25 million birds are killed every year around the Mediterranean Basin alone as they migrate between Europe and Africa.”

Following Malta’s persistent infringements, the European Commission referred the case to the EU Court of Justice, specifically contesting Malta’s licensing for finch trapping under an incorrect “research” exemption. Against the backdrop of the European Green Deal and the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Malta’s stance threatens the EU’s biodiversity goals.

Loosely enforced Egyptian laws

Despite a growing environmental crisis, Egyptian hunting regulations remain poorly enforced.

Haytham Ibrahim, conservation director at Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), told TNA that the hunting rules would require “a comprehensive overhaul.” He said Egypt’s regulations fail to protect endangered species effectively, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a place where “you can hunt comfortably, away from any serious laws.”

A recent decree (No. 204), issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Environment on Aug. 27, 2024, expanded tourist hunting permissions to include two new governorates, the New Valley and Sohag.

“This is a catastrophe,” said Khaled al-Nubi, executive director of NCE. “The oases [in the New Valley] are among the most delicate ecosystems on the planet — a haven in the vast desert for migratory and resident birds.”

Ibrahim told TNA that “the oases sustain agriculture and dates; a collapse in one part affects the whole,” likening them to “an island in a trench: without it, no one crosses to the other side.”

Al-Nubi harshly criticized hunting regulations while emphasizing the need for “thorough studies to guide sustainable resource management. Anything less is an invitation to disaster.”

According to Ibrahim, pressure from tourism companies is behind Decree 204, which likely compensated for the hunting ban introduced in Lake Nasser in September 2023.

The New Arab contacted Egypt’s Ministry of Environment to clarify whether any scientific study had been conducted before allowing hunting tourism in the oases. We also asked if there had been any pressure from the tourism industry. No response was received in time for publication.

Hunting trip organizers

Maltese hunters typically enter Egypt on standard tourist visas granted upon arrival, according to trip organizers and documents reviewed by TNA.

Local hunting organizers and intermediary companies facilitate the process of securing permits to bring firearms and ammunition into the country, allowing each hunter up to 500 cartridges. The required permits are issued by Egypt’s National Security Agency and the ministries of environment and tourism.

International actors also help enable illegal bird hunting in Egypt. A recurring figure in these networks is Kenneth “Kajju” Ellul, the cousin of the MEP candidate, who published many photos on Facebook while hunting in Aswan.

According to the EU-funded National Report on Hunting (2005), a relatively small number of local tourism companies organize hunting trips in Egypt, often in collaboration with independent guides and boat operators.

Eiffel Travel Egypt, Ibis, Saga, Stylish Holidays Travel and Egypt Time Travel are among the registered Egyptian tourism companies that organize hunting trips. These operations are occasionally coordinated through foreign tour companies.

Egypt Time Travel, Eiffel and Ibis have organized hunting trips for Mario, Joseph and Kenneth Ellul and other Maltese citizens, all of whom have been convicted of violating wild bird protection laws.

When we contacted Egypt Time Travel, inquiring about its role in facilitating the Elluls’ hunting trips, it responded that the company “operates in full legal authorization and in full compliance with Egyptian wildlife protection laws.”

In defending its activities, Egypt Time Travel also added that it “operates independently and is not associated with any illegal entities or groups.”

Similarly to Egypt Time Travel, Eiffel Travel Egypt responded that it abides by Egyptian laws. It also declined any responsibility “for any communication between hunters and people who do not work for us in the company.”

The other companies did not respond to our requests for comment in time for publication.

On the ground in Egypt

As the migratory season brings flocks of birds from Europe and Asia to Egypt between September and March, areas like Lake Nasser in the southern Aswan governorate, and Fayoum farther north, provide ample opportunities for illegal hunting.

Lake Nasser emerged as a prominent destination for hunting tourism in the mid-1990s, according to the 2005 National Report on Hunting. Hunters typically stay on boats, navigating between the city of Aswan and the village of Abu Simbel.

Hussein Shalali, who hails from the Nubian village of Gezirat Suhail, has been at the forefront of the struggle against poaching. “I worked at Lake Nasser and saw the Maltese hiring boats for extended trips, hunting rare birds and skinning them for their valuable feathers and hides, which can sell for thousands of dollars,” Shalali told TNA.

“They abandon carcasses along the shore, leaving a stench that disrupts the beauty of Nubian heritage sites,” he added.

According to Shalali, hunters test their rifles near villages, disturbing the peace as they prepare for their excursions.

Conservationists have long struggled to curb illegal activities in the Lake Nasser area.

“Even with the necessary permits and procedures, enforcement on the lake is nearly impossible due to its vast area,” said Ibrahim, the NCE conservation director. “Hunting organizers have their own communication networks and know when to avoid patrols.”

The serene oasis of Fayoum is known for its lush landscapes and tranquil lakes. In February 2024, TNA decided to travel to Fayoum, as we could observe online activity for Maltese hunters there.

Acting as undercover journalists, we asked about hunting opportunities for a group of six Europeans. Fayoum-based organizer Ehab* told us in a call: “We have private spots in Itsa, Senouris and Ibshaway, all well-organized for hunters from Italy and Malta.”

He offered hunting packages inclusive of accommodation, transportation and local guides, while promising large supplies of cartridges. “10,000, 20,000, even 50,000 cartridges — whatever you need,” Ehab reassured us, offering us stocks of ammunition that far exceeded the official 500-cartridge limit.

Safety concerns were addressed swiftly. Ehab confidently replied: “No one will bother you. Everything is completely organized.”

Taxidermy fuels demand

Malta’s taxidermy culture has historically fueled the demand for expensive endangered birds, including those hunted in Egypt. Falzon, the anthropology professor, said taxidermied birds have been commonplace in Maltese houses since the 1960s.

Maltese hunters sometimes return with “skins” — flattened bird specimens that are easier to smuggle. One Maltese hunter even strapped hundreds of bird skins to his body to evade customs. “This case shows you how desperate some people get to smuggle birds back into Malta,” Falzon said.

When visiting Malta in February 2024, local sources showed TNA more than 15,000 bird specimens that had been confiscated over the last 20 years. These included both carcasses stored in freezers and taxidermied displays, of which 15-20% reportedly were of Egyptian origin.

Despite antipoaching efforts, taxidermy continues to be a safe repository for trophy hunting. Sultana, the BirdLife Malta CEO, highlighted the role of “invisible” collections, which operate under the guise of pre-EU amnesties granted for illegal taxidermy possessions. “These lists were never thoroughly checked,” he said. “A recently hunted white stork could be added to an old collection, and no action would be taken.”

We wanted to understand how these birds were transferred to Malta, so we flew back to Egypt in March 2024.

From Egypt to Malta: The smuggling route

“We found around 7,000 dead birds along a 15-kilometer stretch,” recounted Hashim Morsi, an Egyptian bird-watcher, while describing a tragic discovery along the coast of Port Said governorate in April 2017. The dead birds, wrapped in plastic stamped with the Maltese word Marzu (March), signaled a recent hunt and the intention to smuggle trophies that had been inexplicably discarded.

Among the birds were yellow-billed storks, white storks, Eurasian spoonbills, greater flamingos and various raptors — all protected species in Egypt. Collaboration between Egyptian authorities and international organizations like BirdLife Malta has been instrumental in addressing these incidents. “BirdLife Malta responded, confirming these were the actions of Maltese hunters, and urged us to stop them in Egypt,” Morsi told TNA.

In 2020, German field ornithologist Jens Hering, along with other researchers, published a study highlighting the dire threats faced by migratory birds. “Poaching of Yellow-billed Storks and other water birds at lake Nasser, especially by Maltese and local hunters, seems to be considerable,” they wrote.

To gain insight into smuggling operations, we called Moustafa*, a young yet experienced hunting guide operating in Fayoum. “We’ve been doing this for generations,” he repeated. When asked about the legality of hunting in Egypt, particularly of endangered or migratory species, Moustafa was cagey but clear. “Your stuff? It’s yours. You take it home with you, no questions asked.”

We arranged a face-to-face meeting at a café on Lake Qarun. “Flamingos and spoonbills — those are the birds they [the Maltese] like,” Moustafa said.

The allure of hunting in Egypt comes with inherent risks, but Moustafa was quick to assure his clients that he had everything under control. “Some birds, like flamingos, are illegal to hunt because they’re migratory,” he said with a knowing smile.

“The trick is to hunt where there’s no government oversight,” he added. Lake Qarun, officially off-limits due to its nature reserve status, is one such location. “It’s a protected area, but we can still get access to certain zones,” Moustafa said.

For hunters seeking a more rugged environment, Moustafa promoted Aswan, complete with the thrill of hunting near Abu Simbel.

He elaborated on smuggling operations, revealing how hunted birds are wrapped in stretch film, stored in freezers for up to two months, and then packed with ice on board shipping vessels. “It’s all very discreet. They’re hidden among other cargo,” he said, hinting at connections in the shipping industry that facilitate the illegal export.

“Once we’ve taxidermied the birds, we send them out by boat from Fayoum to Port Said, then straight to Malta,” Moustafa said. This route resembles the 2017 incident, when thousands of dead birds with Maltese tags were found along Port Said’s coast.

According to Adel*, a boatman based in Lake Nasser, “when airport security is tight, they [the smugglers] use boats departing from Shata, near Port Said and Damietta.”

Despite Moustafa’s offer to fully taxidermy the birds before shipping them to Malta, evidence from Maltese customs operations suggests that only flattened skins are smuggled into the Mediterranean country.

On Dec. 2, 2024, Moustafa posted on Facebook a set of photos of himself posing alongside a Maltese hunter in Fayoum, while holding carcasses of glossy ibises, birds of prey and other species that are illegal to hunt in Egypt. The images were deleted just minutes after being uploaded.

Malta’s Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU), the government entity responsible for confiscations, was unable to provide TNA with updated data on birds trafficked from Egypt. In its written response, WBRU seemed to lay the blame on Egyptian authorities for not doing enough to counter poaching “at source.” “We need to arrive at a point where protected birds are not killed abroad in the first place. To ensure that such illegalities do not happen … a proactive stance is necessary,” wrote Richard Lia, head of WBRU.

TNA also sought to obtain trafficking data from the Egyptian Customs Authority, and the Egyptian and Maltese national authorities for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). No response was received in time for publication.

Livelihood or luxury?

TNA contacted St. Hubert’s Hunters (KSU), a Maltese hunters’ organization reportedly promoting a strict code of conduct, and inquired about Maltese hunting activities in Egypt. In February 2016, KSU terminated its affiliation with the FKNK, the main Maltese hunting federation.

KSU president Mark Mifsud replied in writing: “We abhor the killing of protected birds wherever that occurs and whoever commits such crime.” He acknowledged that some Maltese hunters visit Egypt to hunt, but criticized the focus on Malta, saying that “Malta has strict laws to penalize such crimes, unlike countries like Egypt, where massacres are the rule.”

Mifsud described illegal hunting in Arab countries as “massacres shown on social media which dwarf any potential impact on both local and migratory bird populations that Maltese hunters allegedly commit in Egypt.”

However, unlike Maltese hunters who pay thousands of euros for each hunting trip, the Egyptian hunters’ livelihood often depends on migratory birds like quails, which are then sold in local markets.“Egyptian hunters along the Mediterranean coast are excessively exploiting migratory birds,” said Khaled al-Nubi from the Egyptian conservation group NCE. “Poverty is a major driver of mass bird hunting in some villages.” Al-Nubi added that “for many, these birds represent a crucial source of income and protein.”

However, he said economic hardship isn’t the sole motive. “It’s a tradition. During migration season, young men gather, feast on grilled birds, and turn hunting into a social event,” al-Nubi said.

Economic impact on local communities

The recent hunting ban in Lake Nasser, enacted in September 2023, has reverberated across local communities whose livelihoods depend on tourism.

We traveled to Lake Nasser and met with Youssef*, a seasoned local guide and boat owner, who described the ban’s far-reaching impact. “It hasn’t just affected me, many families that rely on this boat are struggling,” he said, “from the grocer to the barber, everyone benefits when tourists come — they spend money here, and it keeps the community going.”

He said the Maltese hunters, once a reliable source of income, had moved on to other destinations. “They’ve gone to places like Fayoum, Minya and Beni Suef, anywhere there’s water. But I don’t have the means to follow them or relocate my business.”

Egypt’s Ministry of Environment has so far refrained from commenting on whether support measures for affected boat owners and hunting trip organizers were being considered.

Al-Nubi criticized the dependence of hunting trip organizers on Lake Nasser, saying they prefer a business model built on the predictable income generated by returning clients, rather than seeking out alternative locations. “They say they’ve been hunters for generations, yet they act as though they’ll perish without Lake Nasser,” he said.

“Maltese hunters are among the worst offenders in illegal hunting in Europe, and … many of those who come to Egypt have already had their licenses revoked in Malta,” al-Nubi added. “Building your business around the worst clients and then lamenting the restrictions is a flawed model.”

With regards to the Egyptian communities whose livelihood depends on hunting trips, European Parliament member Anja Hazekamp (Party for the Animals) told The New Arab that “if we truly want to invest in local communities, there are other ways than killing off their wildlife.”

From poacher’s bay to bird-watcher’s haven

Amr Hady, the founder of Sobek Planet for Ecotourism and Training, is a passionate conservationist who operates in Lake Nasser.

“The problem isn’t just the number of birds they kill, it’s what they’re killing. I’ve seen hunters bragging about their Egyptian vulture kills,” Hady told TNA. “It’s not about food, it’s about ego.”

Despite the Ministry of Environment’s regulations, Hady said the problem is beyond the scope of any single entity. “Some issues are just too big for one organization to handle. This needs civil society’s cooperation,” he said. In his view, the biggest challenge is shifting cultural mindsets.

“We may not notice the impact today,” Hady said, “but removing even one species can disrupt the entire ecosystem.”

Ibrahim, the NCE conservation director, said “birds are transboundary messengers,” as they facilitate vital processes like seed dispersal and pest control, arriving precisely when ecosystems need them to feed on particular insects or scatter specific seeds.

Hady said ecotourism, and specifically bird-watching, holds the potential to generate sustainable income while preserving biodiversity for future generations.

In the soft light of early morning, we sit on a modest, sun-worn boat drifting across the Nile in Aswan, where Mounir*, a fisherman turned conservationist, now leads bird-watching trips.

After years spent powerlessly witnessing the actions of Maltese hunters, he decided to embrace ecotourism.

“The Maltese hunters are a different story,” Mounir sighed with a frustrated tone. “At first, they would hunt just a few birds here and there, but then it became relentless. They’d kill everything in sight: geese, migratory birds, even donkeys.”

He recounted an incident in which Maltese hunters had fired at animals on an uninhabited island. Despite local attempts to mediate, Mounir said, “they left the island stripped of wildlife.”

For years, Aswan’s winter migratory bird season has been a bustling time, not only for nature lovers but also for hunters attracted by the diverse bird species. “Winter brought the birds and the hunters alike,” Mounir said, steering the boat through shallow waters, “but it was only a matter of time before the birds were driven away by endless rounds of gunfire.”

When asked if he ever confronted the hunters, Mounir chuckled knowingly. “Oh, we tried,” he said, “but most, including their bosses, told us to ‘stay in our lane.’ To them it was business, their cash cow.”

During this period of rampant hunting, Mounir crossed paths with Hady, the Sobek Planet founder. Hady shared with him his vision of Lake Nasser as an ecotourism destination rather than a hunting ground, and Mounir was captivated.

“With bird-watching, the birds stay,” Mounir said. “One group leaves, and the next day, another can enjoy the same sights.”

This transition into bird-watching wasn’t just a business pivot, it was also a return to Imam’s roots. “I’ve loved birds since I was a boy,” he said, nostalgia softening his voice. “My mother, God rest her soul, encouraged me to care for them. I even raised falcons, training them to return to me.”

EU conservation projects: ‘A waste of money’?

“It does not make sense that in Europe we’re trying to safeguard the bird and then we allow Europeans to go to Egypt and hunt those birds,” said Sultana from BirdLife Malta. In his view, no European citizen should be permitted to hunt abroad species that are protected in Europe, regardless of whether foreign laws allow it.

Safeguarding Europe’s migratory birds comes at a steep cost. Turtledoves, for example, are globally classified as vulnerable species and protected under the LIFE program, which is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Although there’s no EU-wide prohibition on hunting, some European countries have issued temporary bans against the seasonal hunting of turtledoves. They’ve also been illegal to hunt for tourists in Egypt since 2022.

But turtledoves are among the favorite prey of Maltese hunters.

All 8,041 registered hunters in Malta are collectively allowed to shoot only 1,500 turtledoves in one season under Maltese law. A single hunting party alone, however, can kill far more than that on a trip to Egypt.

TNA analyzed dozens of videos that reveal the scope of the slaughter. In a Facebook video posted on Dec. 9, 2019, Maltese hunters and a local hunting guide claim that they killed 780 turtledoves on that day, more than 510 of them within a span of 90 minutes.

Other videos and pictures suggest that hunters are able to kill between 450 and 1,500 birds in a single day or trip.

Given the scale of the violations committed in Egypt, MEP Anja Hazekamp was critical of how funds were being spent on conservation programs in the EU. “It’s a waste of money. It’s a waste of the efforts of all these people that try to save this beautiful bird,” she told TNA.

The EU has also allocated funds for the protection of another endangered species hunted by the Maltese: the Egyptian vulture.

TNA contacted the EU Commission for a response on the effectiveness of conservation programs that allocate funds for species that are targeted elsewhere. We received no response in time for publication.

The future of international conservation

Hazekamp said hunters shouldn’t be part of conservation efforts. “People that use guns to kill other creatures should not be involved in protecting these creatures,” she said, brushing aside arguments that hunting could be sustainably managed.

NCE executive director Khaled al-Nubi analyzed the challenges looming over the engagement of Maltese hunters in conservation. “Their rituals revolve around overhunting, shooting in every direction, it’s tied to their heritage. Bridging this mindset with conservation goals is no easy task,” he said.

As an alternative to hunters, he proposed bringing to Egypt Maltese bird photographers. “Let them experience the beauty of Lake Nasser through ecotourism, not gunfire,” he said.

Berti Ferns, the conservation breeding manager, disagreed with this view. “Conservation cannot succeed if hunters are treated as the enemy and conservationists as heroes, it’s a battle that leads nowhere,” he told TNA. Ferns said fostering collaboration with hunters, rather than alienating them, could be the key to addressing the challenges posed by Maltese hunters traveling abroad.

Ferns is an advocate of establishing hunting quotas grounded in robust, science-backed data. “Whether we like it or not, hunting is a tradition for some people, and it can be done sustainably,” he said.

In Egypt, NCE conservation director Haytham Ibrahim echoed the call for sustainable practices, while distinguishing between hunting and poaching.

According to Brian Campbell, the U.K. anthropologist, it’s impossible to “negotiate with somebody whose ultimate goal is to stop hunting,” especially if they see hunters as “barbarians and uncivilized beings.” He said “the demonization of hunters” contributes to exacerbating tensions and fueling mistrust.

Hashim Morsi, the Egyptian bird-watcher, said he thinks “the EU can only do so much,” given that hunters arrive with legal paperwork. The real issue, he told TNA, begins with the ease of noncompliance once they cross borders.

BirdLife Malta’s Mark Sultana underscored the importance of developing cross-border conservation models, and singled out Kenya as a business model for ecotourism that could be inspirational for Egypt.

Efforts to address the poaching and smuggling of migratory birds by Maltese hunters across North Africa and Europe face challenges on multiple fronts.

While the European Union invests millions of euros in conserving these species, their efforts are undermined by European hunters exploiting poor law enforcement in non-EU countries like Egypt.

Local communities reliant on hunting tourism face economic uncertainty, while ecosystems bear the brunt of unchecked exploitation.

“This isn’t just about birds, it’s about the survival of entire ecosystems and the choices we make as a society,” NCE’s al-Nubi said.

“If we allow reckless hunting to persist without science-backed regulation, we’re not just losing species, we’re dismantling the delicate balance that sustains us all,” he added.

Banner image: Illustration by The New Arab.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

This investigation was developed with the support of JournalismFund Europe.

Citations:

Ferns, B., Campbell, B., & Veríssimo, D. (2022). Emerging contradictions in the enforcement of bird hunting regulations in Malta. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(4). doi:10.1111/csp2.12655

Hering, J., Fischer, S., Fuchs, E., Habib, M. I., & Wobker, J. (2020). Yellow-billed Storks at lake Nasser and status in Egypt. Dutch Birding, 42, 415-423. Retrieved from https://www.dutchbirding.nl/journal/pdf/DB_2020_42_6.pdf#page=39