Ariadne Massa
Three-month-old Bengal tiger cub found in Mosta warehouse
Bengal tigers are an endangered species.
A Bengal tiger, one of the world's endangered species, was yesterday discovered cavorting in an air-conditioned room on the roof of a warehouse in Mosta, sources said.
The three-month-old cub, a golden tabby, which is said to have cost its owner some €23,000, was being well cared for, fed chickens so it gets its daily requirement of lean protein and had a sizeable pen to roam in.
The discovery was made after a raid by members of the Animal Welfare Department, the police's Administrative Law Enforcement and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's Environment Protection Department.
When contacted, Animal Welfare director Mario Spiteri confirmed the cub was found and that the raid had been carried out after receiving several anonymous phone calls reporting the sighting of a tiger.
The authorities decided the cub should remain with the owner until investigations established how it was brought in and whether the owner had the necessary paperwork to import it.
The population of Bengal tigers in the Indian subcontinent is estimated to be between 1,300 and 1,500 and the species is in danger of extinction due to over-hunting by poachers and illicit trade. Habitat loss is another threat.
The tigers are poached for their coats and used for components to make various traditional medicines. Many Asian cultures have an ingrained belief the tiger is a potent source of healing power. Tiger bone and other parts of the animal are thought to cure rheumatism, enhance longevity and treat impotence, among others.
A female Bengal tiger is considerably smaller than its male counterpart, weighing 140 kilograms and is eight feet long, including its tail. A fully-grown adult can consume about 30 kilograms of meat at a time but can survive up to three weeks without food.
Martin Seychell, Mepa's environment director, said that, while he could not enter into the merits of this particular case, tigers were protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).
First, this species could not be captured in the wild and for it to be imported into the island there had to be movement permits issued from the country of origin and the importing country.
"There are strict trade permits and its importation would require consent by the authorities of both sides. The animal would need to have an entire history to ensure it has been born and bred in captivity. Cites has the strictest regulations," Mr Seychell said.
Asked whether the authorities were witnessing a trend of exotic animals being imported into Malta, Mr Seychell said he had mostly come across snakes and monkeys but it was unusual to find carnivores, which were difficult to handle and keep. He said carnivores usually had a territory the size of Malta to roam in the wild.
Mr Seychell has also come across species that were not endemic to the island, such as bull frogs and spiders, which could cause problems if they were let loose and bred.
"Some people are taking crazy risks and bringing in venomous animals, posing a huge risk to themselves and those around them. In such cases the authorities won't have the antidote if anybody is poisoned," he said, warning against such practices.
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Katia Mifsud
Sep 3rd 2009, 13:12
What does it mean.... "whether the owner had the necessary paperwork to import it"... ??? Is it even considered that someone can get permission to import a tiger to Malta??? I believe that it's cruelty to the cub. It's not her natural environment!
Charles Attard
Sep 2nd 2009, 12:15
The animal is being very well kept, and so it was reported. Such animals also have passports to travel, so let us not judge people.
R. Zammit
Sep 2nd 2009, 09:23
Full marks to Mark Mifsud Bonnici. Our customs system works none better than the three famous monkeys!! The blind, the Mute and the Dumb!! The latter is debatable of course…..just use your imagination why all this can happen!!
Now if this chap (the owner) could copiously spend €23,000 for the Tiger’s illegal importation and more euros for its upkeep, he should be made by the authorities to return the animal back to its origin at his full expense. After that, a thorough investigation should be carried out as to how and who was responsible to allow this animal in our country and penalise the owner and his accomplices according to law. That’s as far as illegal importation is concerned. About endangering his neighbours and the public in general, a separate proceeding should be carried out. Nailing these people is in the public’s interest…and eye-opener to others of the same mentality.
Ruby Jenner
Sep 1st 2009, 20:17
This beautiful wild animal should not be someones pet. It should be sent back into the wild or if not possible given to a safari park where it will have lot's of space. It is very selfish and dangerous to keep such an animal as a pet. It's a pity money can't buy common sense.
Robert Callus
Sep 1st 2009, 17:44
Animal abuse and tempering with mother nature at it's best. Didn't this irresponsible person realise that we don't find tigers roaming in Malta is not a coincidence but for very obvious reasons? What was he to do when the tiger became too big to keep in a domestic environment, yet raised without the necessary skills other less unfortunate cubs to go back where it belongs.
P. Xuereb
Sep 1st 2009, 17:26
Hopefully this animal's welfare will be the greatest concern in this story. It would be something of a tragedy if, in the current uproar that has ensued, this poor cub ends up the loser...
Franco Farrugia
Sep 1st 2009, 14:37
First, I absolutely condemn the presence of this animal in this country. Malta is no suitable place for such an animal. The very description of the place where it was found speaks volumes, whether a/c is being used or not.
Secondly, the authorities did well to temporarily allow its 'owner' - only God the Creator is any animal's 'owner' - to kee the tiger, but hopefully, pending investigations and eventual decision.
The decision should be that with the help of foreign experts,the tiger is sent back to its natural habitat, if at all possible. Certainly, it should not stay in Malta.
The last thing that should happen is for the authorities to decide that it should be killed - the easiest way out.
Let us remember: it is an endangered species.
The authorities should also minutely investigate how come such an animal was allowed to come into the country and pass by customs, undetected.
It is my belief that this is yet another example that shows how our country is corrupted.
josephine de maria casabene
Sep 1st 2009, 13:03
It just takes one pregnant female snake......and the multiplication is super-fast and highly disproportionate. A very real danger.....many pet owners want to get rid of them after some time too....now which sanctuary would home a snake or tiger??
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Sep 1st 2009, 11:50
Nittama li ma jitghattiex kif dal-povru annimal iddahhal Malta u tinhall ix-xibka kollha li ghenet biex jitwettaq dan l-ghemil oxxen
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 1st 2009, 11:48
A tiger slips through customs "unnoticed". Imagine what else slips through, drugs, illegal weapons!
Marion Pace
Sep 1st 2009, 10:32
These people should be charged and imprisioned. What if an earthquake or other natural disater takes place and these deadly creatures are let loose? What if they escape to the neibour's home posing a life and death situation. What has overcome the majority of the Maltese how come they are being selfish and heartless? How come we are becoming so blind and thoughtless? Any one who comes about these deadly and threatening creatures please report you might save lives including your own and loved ones!
Jackie St. John
Sep 1st 2009, 10:24
I hope that this will not be the latest trend on our small Island. Having a sizeable pen and given good food is not enough to justify an endagered species to be imported (!!!!) into Malta.
What will happen once this tiger becomes of full size ? Will it still have a sizeable pen to roam in or rather live a desperate life in a man made prison cell ? I hope that the competent authorities take this case seriously and start working on how this poor animal is to be sent back to it's native country and live a decent life.
We are already faced with the problem (which has now become out of hand) of snake owners etc getting fed up of caring for their so called pet and dumping them wherever they deem fit to become a threat to humans and animal species alike.
I hope that this case does not fall onto deaf ears and that we are kept abreast of how this case will end.
Moira Heath
Sep 1st 2009, 10:21
how on earth do you get the necessary paperwork to import a Bengal tiger in Malta ? And what was the owner thinking of doing with the cub once it grew up? Take it for a walk on the Sliema seafront ?
Galea. L
Sep 1st 2009, 10:19
Why are all these dangerous animals being allowed to be brought here?
How was this tiger brought in? It's not something that you can put in your pocket.
They are not only a danger to persons, but also to local wild life as is known to have happened everywhere alien species were imported, be it animals, plants or trees.
Who would be responsible if this tiger escaped and killed someone?
And even if the person responsible is found, how can someone who has been killed be brought back to life?
This tiger together with all other alien animals should be collected and sent back to their original countries and anyone caught importing them should be extremely heavily fined.
J Farrugia
Sep 1st 2009, 10:15
What is this tiger doing here in Malta? For me this means that someone has a male and a female tigers resident in Malta. Dont the authorities know that these are protected species and should never have been allowed to be imported in Malta? I hope that the police will take all the necessary action to protect the maltese people from such dangerous animals. As long as such creatures damage their irresponsible owners all well and good. But the buck stops there. The authorities are putting our lives in danger by allowing freaks to import dangerous snakes, crocs, tigers, lions, and what not. Do we have a list of imported dangerous animals in Malta? Is it not enough that we have dangerous dogs biting people? Do we need other toxic venoms and razor sharp teeth to bestow horror to our small islands? Action please from all the authorities concerned. And it is about time to close all such petshops which deal with such illicit trade even though they have the health certificates. Such wild animls should be left where they belong ..... in the wild.
duncan Tanti
Sep 1st 2009, 09:58
Freddie Mercury once said'we're going slightly mad'I agree with him 100%