Unregistered boars, 11 goats put down
These wild boars and mountain goats were put down after government vets established they were not legally registered. Photo: Jason Borg
The four wild boars and 11 mountain goats confiscated from an illegal scrap yard were put down because they were not registered in terms of the law.
“The animals were a risk because they did not have a medical history and were not registered,” Anthony Gruppetta, Director General of Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation, explained.
They were seized two weeks ago after officers from the Animal Welfare Department raided the illegal scrap yard in Ħal-Farruġ after receiving a number of complaints.
Dr Gruppetta said it was a shame to put down animals but in this case they had no option because leaving the boars alive meant they would have posed a risk to the other farm animals that were registered.
The boars were very big and fierce. One of them even had tusks and was probably a four-year-old male.
Dr Gruppetta said the department could not establish what type of breed the boars were. Nor were they able to find out where they came from.
Once animals are confiscated, they are passed on to the Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation Department, where they are examined by government vets. If these are not registered or tagged, as required by law, then the department has the authority to put them down.
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Albert Scerri
Sep 9th 2010, 08:55
I like, nay love animals as much as the next man if not more; however, and I really hate saying this, it would have been much too risky to let these animals alive in Malta. Remember, they were WILD not domesticated animals. What I would like to know though is whether the owner or the importer of these poor animals is going to be put down too.
Joe Portelli
Sep 9th 2010, 23:54
If they really believed these animals posed a health treat, why were ther no PPE , personal protection equipment for the personnell handling them in the picture above? The reason is because they are just being vindictive to anyone that breaks the rules and not truly because the anumals posed a threat - killing these animals and not wearing PPE is ample evidence.
Albert Scerri
Sep 10th 2010, 17:45
They were not being 'vindictive' to the animals. They were not wearing PPEs because that's the way we treat Health and Safety issues in Malta.
S. Borg
Sep 9th 2010, 01:15
The “putting down” of these helpless creatures because they “did not have a medical history and were not registered” was incredibly unbelievably stupid and inhuman.
charles grech
Sep 8th 2010, 23:11
NO ANIMAL RIGHTS. NO VOTE
j grech
Sep 8th 2010, 22:05
a doctor will do all in his power to save a life a dentist will do the same to save a tooth, a cop or fireman will risk their own lives to safe others but what does the vet do not even volunteer his services to check the animals health and declare and then treat the animal to save its life no he agrees to let it be put to death and he did not actually have to have his arm twisted, so what are they in this game for? check the animal clear the animal put the animal in isolation untill it has been treated and then put it up for adoption and let the new owner register it/them and get them tagged, surely at least one vet would have offered his services free oh sorry i forgot this is malta. disgraceful and disgusting to say the least i hope when you need a doctor with a mystery illness he does not have the time to put you through the test so that makes you a risk not knowing your decease and has you put down
Joe Portelli
Sep 8th 2010, 20:14
..and we call this, advance in animal welfare ! the mind boggles... it truly sounds disturbing, killing what may have been healthy and uniterferred with animals as Nature intended them to be, (we call them organic). What next, go to Africa and start destroying all untagged animals ? There MUST be a better way to deal with the owners of untagged animals and that would prevent disease spreading too.
AJ.Sant
Sep 8th 2010, 23:27
Reading this article, i think i'll be better off going to such places as Israel and start pig farming, i stand more of a chance i think of succeeding in business, why kill them and not put them to a good use for heaven sake, how small minded Malta can be, all in the name of bureaucracy
monica muscat
Sep 8th 2010, 19:47
I understand the putting down of the wild boars. Given that they were a danger to humans.
But what about the 11 mountain goats? Could they not have been checked and medically examined for any sign of sickness which could be dangerous to humans or other animal species? I think if they were properly cared for, tagged and let loose in some natural reserve, they would have been a beautiful attraction to young and old alike. So we have no mountains!
At least we would have the goats. I do not think they would have complained living in flat Malta!
N. Abela
Sep 8th 2010, 19:08
And what about all the doga imported into Malta illegally with the Ferry from Catania?? Are all these legally imported? Who is at the port to check the vans and cars coming in with all kinds of animals.? Even illegal animals like pitbulls ahve come from Catania on the ferry in a car. sO THESE DON'T POSE A RISK OF DISEASE BECAUSE THEY ARE DOGS BUT BOARS DO?
M.Calleja
Sep 8th 2010, 17:28
"The animals were a risk because they did not have a medical history and were not registered".
Very convenient. Couldn't they have been checked? Maybe after all there was nothing wrong with them. Shame on the authorities for making such a decision.
Becky Camilleri
Sep 8th 2010, 16:24
This is a horrid situation, found all over unfortunately!
Animals cannot speak and defend themselves, so they are always the ones to suffer, when really and truly the real animals are humans.
We hunt and kill for fun, not them ! All they do is love us, or peacefully graze the fields. It is horrid how some are treated. Animals are living creatures just like us, so we should have the same respect towards them like you would towards your neighbour, friend etc....
We are all born under the same sky...
Karl Axisa
Sep 8th 2010, 15:55
I do not recall where or when I heard the following story but it surely befits this sad and unlucky encounter of these poor animals... with Mr. Gruppetta.
So one cold winter there was this fledgling sitting quietly and happily in its nest atop a tree. A gust of wind came and blew the nest away, the fledgling falling to the ground. Poor thing started to tremble and freeze all over. A cow came by and the fledgling asked for help. All the cow could think of was to cover the little bird in a pile of cattle dung (for want of a better phrase). So the little bird, to its surprise, suddenly found itself in a pile of s..t . Counting out the stench, the birdy was warm and cosy once again. Now a fox came by and pitied the little bird stuck in a pile of bull s..t. So the fox picked up the little bird, cleaned it and ....swallowed it.
Surely whoever came up with the solution did not waste too much sleep. To my mind a charging four year old wild boar does not instill an image of a sick animal. How sad.
Nick Hunter
Sep 8th 2010, 15:02
Hey I've got a great idea!
Why not pass any illegal immigrants over to the Agricultural Fisheries Dept? After all they aren't registered and pose a potential health risk if they are carrying disease. They can infect others....
That would be the easy way out!
Ok, I'm being facetious but a life is a life...If the boar was 4 years old then it stands to reason it was in farly decent health or at least adequately cared for.
This was unnecessary killing.
Rebecca Camilleri
Sep 8th 2010, 16:09
Totally agree with you... a life is a life, and these poor animals are innocent, the only thing they r guilty of is being cute and found in the wrong hands.. They cannot defend themsleves, so we are meant to do it for them.
Instead the Einsteins decide to go for the easy way out and put them down.. Horrid
A. Camilleri
Sep 8th 2010, 14:58
First they save them, then they kill them... prosit e
Muscat D
Sep 8th 2010, 12:49
Shame on whoever ordered them killed.
S. Zammit
Sep 8th 2010, 12:42
Everyone has become a vet too now? How can you say a quarantine is enough? What if they infected other animals, or God forbid people or children? I believe they did what was necessary to do.
fabio ciappara
Sep 8th 2010, 12:39
What a sad ending for these helpless animals, there was no reason at all for them to be slaughtered. Why did the government vet. dept. not have these animals tested first. I would like the minister responsable for animal welfare to investigate this horrible incident, maybe he can tell us the time span from when these animals were taken to stalag 13. till the time they were put to death. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.
Shame on whoever is responsable for the slaughter.
Sylvia Zammit
Sep 8th 2010, 12:34
Yes, I fully agree with with Sabrina Borda. Why must it be the animals who suffer? I understand there is always worry about possible diseases, but surely registering animals does not make them disease free? I think Quarantine would have been the logical option. It's especially ironical when they were 'rescued' by Animal welfare after complaints. That is, unless the complaints were about smells, noise etc - in which case, another Dept would have been more appropriate. People have been more ready to report cruelty because something can now be done about it. I believe killing animals - who have already had a raw deal - is never the answer.
J. Borg
Sep 8th 2010, 12:12
Animal Welfare......my foot!
Institutionalised murder.........it seems money and vested interest always get the upper hand in this sick island run by institutions who are only good at playing charades.
Noel Cutajar
Sep 8th 2010, 11:54
I cannot understand this logic...if the animal has no disease and is in apparent good health why put it down? ...non registration is an automatic death?
s.koludroviic
Sep 8th 2010, 13:14
Yup! it seems that animals have absolutely no rights, only humans seem to have this privilege.
Anthony Formosa
Sep 8th 2010, 11:26
At least the young animals could have been saved. Does the same law applies for humans when they are unregistered and with no records? They can also pose a risk to registered humans.
Joseph E Briffa
Sep 8th 2010, 11:18
Downright shame on the authorities......putting the animals down because they were not registered! First they are unable to establish the type of breed of the boars, why didn't they ask the experts? And then they couldn't establish where they came from....why didn't they put them up at San Anton's? We used to have mountain goats there some years back. Stejjer ta' gahan.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 8th 2010, 11:02
Ever heard of quarantine? Observations? Medical tests? Medical examinations? First you rescue them then you slaughter them. Makes perfect sense only in Malta!
Heqq, wara kollox ma kellhomx it-tag jew il-karta r-roza.
What a load of bollocks.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 8th 2010, 11:01
WHat about quarantine?
Shameful decision. Always the easiest way out!
harry saliba
Sep 8th 2010, 11:00
NASTY NASTY NASTY, reading this and other news articles only boils down to one conclusion ,,, pass the buck island !!!!!!! .
Sabrina Borda
Sep 8th 2010, 10:33
Could these animals not have been put in Quarantine to establish if they were a risk of infecting other animals or not ?
Yes, the Department has the authority... but does it have any heart ?
Very sad news.
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 8th 2010, 09:48
Now that is really brilliant, first they save the animals then they put them down. Or to put it more crudely execute them. The reason being that they were not registered in terms of the law.
p attard
Sep 8th 2010, 09:45
Shame on whoever took the final decision to KILL these poor, helpless animals! I don't give a damn what the rules say..... they could have been put in quarantine and then donated to the Razzett tal-Hbiberija for children to admire!