A day out... with the animals

Families who are short of ideas of how to spend their weekends can make the most of a day among the variety of animals at the Park of Friendship - Ir-Razzett tal-Ħbiberija - in Marsascala and participate in activities such as horse riding, feeding monkeys or petting the ostriches.

Spread over five tumuli of landscaped gardens, adults and children can spend a relaxing day with over 20 species of animals including rams, sheep, horses, chickens, rabbits, monkeys, wallabies and ducks.

Children have the opportunity to roam about the park and visit the animals. Since most of the animals are tame and used to humans, visitors can enjoy the unique experience of petting and feeding them.

Park of Friendship CEO Nathan Farrugia explained that most of the animals were donated to the park after they were no longer wanted as pets. The park also opened its doors to injured and mistreated animals that had nowhere to go.

The park's diverse family also grew thanks to the generosity of visitors who fell in love with the animals and donate more. "We had many visitors who love the animals in the park and generously donate another one to make it more diverse," he said.

"The aim of the park to break down the barriers between humans and animals and help people, especially children, come closer to the animals," said Mr Farrugia.

In fact, animals such as rabbits and horses are used as a form of rehabilitation. Through pet therapy, children with difficult behaviour can overcome psychological barriers that stop them from showing emotions.

The rabbits, for example, are used to help children who have been institutionalised for long periods of time and who have difficulty in showing emotions or relating to humans.

"Petting the rabbits helps institutionalised children who have problems in relating to humans or engaging in human contact, such as hugging, to break those barriers," he said.

The park had suffered a huge blow in September 2007, when intruders broke in, killed a deer and stole animals used for rehabilitative therapy. Two brothers were charged with the theft of three barn owls, two golden pheasants, four mountain goats, a young mountain goat, an Amazon parrot, a rabbit and a monkey. It was estimated that the cost of the stolen animals amounted to over €2,500.

During the week, the park is open in the morning for school visits and is open all day to the public during the weekends.