Turtle Dove Hunting in the Mediterranean

Turtle doves migrating between sub-Saharan Africa and UK breeding grounds face mass hunting in Malta, Cyprus, and other Mediterranean countries.

Key Facts

Malta permits spring hunting of turtle doves and quails during migration
An estimated 2-3 million birds including protected species are killed annually across Malta
Cyprus has faced EU infringement proceedings over illegal spring hunting
International agreements to protect migratory birds are weakly enforced in some countries
Turtle dove hunting in spring coincides with birds in breeding condition traveling north

Welfare Considerations

Birds shot during migration may be wounded rather than killed outright, experiencing prolonged suffering before death. Hunting in spring removes birds in breeding condition that would contribute to declining UK populations. The scale of illegal and legal hunting along the African-European flyway represents a major welfare burden across millions of individual birds annually. Non-target species including raptors, herons, and warblers are also shot and injured in illegal hunting operations.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International campaigns against illegal spring hunting
Advocate for EU enforcement action against member states permitting illegal hunting
Donate to the Committee Against Bird Slaughter monitoring programs
Raise awareness about the connection between Mediterranean hunting and UK bird declines
Support stricter EU Birds Directive enforcement mechanisms