Nikki Abela Mercieca
Away from its mother, death stalks stolen Bambi
Bambi’s mother wonders aimlessly after the loss of her vulnerable baby. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Thieves have stolen a month-old baby deer from Razzett tal-Ħbiberija which will die unless it is returned, since fawns depend on their mother’s milk for the first six months of their lives.
The deer was stolen along with four mountain goats and a parrot in the second such break-in in three years at the Marsascala park, which uses the animals for therapy with disabled children.
Staff at The Inspire Foundation, as the charity organis-ation is now called following a merger in 2009, asked the public to keep an eye open for the animals and report any-thing suspicious but pleaded with the robbers to return the little deer.
The fawn was born on the farm just over a month ago and had sentimental value to the staff who witnessed its birth.
Park coordinator Twanny Fenech said that if it remained apart from its mother – on which it depended for sustenance – its days were numbered.
The mother deer and another fawn have also suffered some bruises.
Mr Fenech said he first realised that something was amiss when the other deer looked scared while he was feeding them in the morning.
He then realised that the parrot, together with its 1.5 metre cage, was gone.
The park was unmanned between 1.30 and 5.30 a.m., making it likely that the theft took place during that time.
The foundation building is equipped with security cameras but the burglars managed to avoid surveillance. In fact, no damage was noted, raising suspicion that they jumped over a low wall.
Inspire had installed a number of CCTVs around the main building in the past, however, the logistics and expense of covering the extensive animal park as well proved too demanding for the charity.
In all, the financial loss is estimated to be worth around €1,000 but the cost is greater than that.
“The animals are important to us not only as an attraction but also for therapeutic input, making the loss a big one for us,” said Inspire CEO Nathan Farrugia.
In fact, the foundation, a leader in the local disability sector, uses the animals for human-animal interaction with the children.
In December 2007, an adult deer was bludgeoned to death in a similar break-in in which several animals including a monkey and a deer were stolen.
Earlier this year a man was imprisoned and another two received lesser sentences for the theft.
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Theresa Demanuele
Jul 28th 2010, 00:07
These thieves have taken away something very special from our children who attend Razzett and which cannot simply be replaced. These animals provide fun, adventure, excitement, therapy & a healthy learning environment - please return these animals to their place at Razzett.
To the Maltese nation - surely these animals are noticeable and if anyone knows anything that may help return them safely please contact the Police or Inspire in a unanimous way.
Maria Borg
Jul 27th 2010, 21:02
I just hope that the thieves who stole the poor animals may one day need a similar way for therapy and how joyful it would be to see them crying for their own mistake, if they would ever realise it!!! For the Razzett, well if you organise something then you should do it professionally or else do nothing !
w.scicluna
Jul 27th 2010, 19:24
You really have to be a filthy coward to commit these crimes. Congratulations dear thieves, you are really giving malta a bad name.
Emmanuel Marmara'
Jul 27th 2010, 15:06
IF caught, they should be tied with a chain around their neck to a fence in the RAZZETT and stoned by visitors. These culprits have no considerations what so ever for animals and for the dear disabled children. Besides a thorough investigations should be made to how these animals have been stolen twice from the same place.Surely there must be some kind of security !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Martha Kane
Jul 27th 2010, 14:01
The thieves are dispicable but the people who are in charge of the place are entirely to blame . The last time it happened I payed an unexpected visit just to see how hard, or how easy it was to get in and guess what....there was nobody around to stop me and I walked around the place freely and undisturbed. What I saw was not pretty ,so much so that I wrote a harsh letter to the board of trustees at Razzett and copied the SPCA to inform what i had seen. Needless to say, I never got a reply from either one of them so i prayed to God that my letter had not fallen on deaf ears. Alas today I know that I had been right all along in feeling that at Razzett the animals which are used as an ''attraction'' and for therapeutic reasons are themselves terribly neglected .How else would one explain what has happened not once, but TWICE. The animal welfare must involve themselves in this investigation and the remaining animals should be moved to a safe place once and for all.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 19:09
Exactly. And that is why I repeat, that Razzett should not be allowed to keep animals anymore!
Isabella Peresso Fiorentino
Jul 27th 2010, 21:49
This is not the place and worse still the climate for these animals.
Charmaine Marmara'
Jul 27th 2010, 13:44
they will read this coz they laugh at their crimes ...u cowards stealing an innocent fawn , what if they got in your house and stole your kids ?? u should be ashamed of yourself ,you and people like you ....
A.Attard
Jul 27th 2010, 10:47
DISGRACE FOR ALL THE HUMAN RACE
Franco Farrugia
Jul 27th 2010, 10:12
Animals are valuable, per se, and not inasmuch as they serve human beings. The Razzett does not deserve to keep these animals anymore, since they have proved, once and twice, unable to look after them properly.
david debattista
Jul 27th 2010, 10:10
THIS IS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK THOSE ANIMALS.
LEAVE THE ANIMALS IN A SAFE PLACE. MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WATER, AND CALL THE POLICE .
Miguel Micallef
Jul 27th 2010, 11:00
I don't think they are exactly the reading type of people, seriously.
D Fenech
Jul 27th 2010, 10:05
Shame on whoever is responsible!
I visit the premisis regularily and make use of their facilities and I cannot cease to be amazed at the dedication of the people who work there. They are amazing!
Trust that the culprits will be apprehended soon and the animals returned where they belong.