Mandarin Duck shot dead at Salina reserve The culprit is being investigated by police officials 18 December 2020, 3:39pm by Nicole Meilak A Mandarin Duck was shot dead yesterday morning at the Salina Nature Reserve, BirdLife Malta has revealed. While no hunting is allowed at the sanctuary, the duck was found floating dead in the middle of the Sukkursu canal. According to BirdLife, the Environmental Protection Unit within the Malta Police Force found a firearm left in the reed bed by the culprit. The owner of the gun is now being investigated for this crime. “It is utterly sad that during this year, which has seen an unprecedented rise in illegal killing incidents, individuals such as the one being investigated feel comfortable enough to enter a bird sanctuary in broad daylight and fire at a sitting bird in such a manner,” the NGO said in a statement.