Eight non-governmental organisations have called on the planning authority and the Animal Welfare Department to take immediate action regarding Montekristo Estate and address all illegalities and the animal welfare issue without further delay.
Birdlife, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth, Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Graffiti, Nature Trust and Ramblers Association said that, in the case of animal welfare, this issue could not wait further since live animals were suffering while the authorities were dragging their feet.
“The more action is delayed, the more these animals are being affected and exposed to unnecessary and inhumane suffering.”
They said it made no sense for the government to profess zero tolerance on illegalities and pass harsher laws for animal abuse offenders when the authorities failed miserably to take action and demonstrate the zero tolerance promised.
“The Montekristo cases of illegalities have been ongoing for far too long and the NGOs feel that despite electoral manifesto commitments and promises by the relevant authorities to act, nothing tangible is being done while one government after another allows such illegalities to continue and increase.
“Polidano Group is already well known for their questionable ways on achieving their aims by bullying tactics…”
They asked how 20 wild animals made it to Malta considering they were internationally protected species whose trade was banned.
“A thorough investigation on how these animals were smuggled into Malta should be held before any permit process is started.
“It ludicrous and rather rich that Polidano is blaming Mepa for the animals’ inadequate cages. With 55 enforcement notices (2013 figures), it is obvious that this company feels that it is above the law.”
The NGOs said it was high time that the secretariat realised that the reasoning behind the same arguments that applied to circuses also apply to the confinement of animals in so called zoos.
“Regardless of the number of generations that wild animals have been in captivity, captive-born wild animals do not lose the instincts and needs of wild animals.
“They retain their natural instincts to socialise and roam freely. Zoos deny captive-born wild animals of their need to exhibit their natural behaviours. No matter how much they are taken care of, the fact remains that they would be in a similar situation as a bird in a gilded cage.”
The NGOs said zoos should be banned from Malta as the country lacked the land space, and in some cases the climate, that such wildlife require.
ANIMAL RIGHTS COALITION EXPRESSES CONCERN
In another statement, the Animal Rights Coalition expressed concern that little was being done to tackle the issue of illegal zoos.
It said it had always been against zoos, dolphinariums and circuses as these used animals as exhibits for human gain and were of no benefit to the animals that were denied the right to practice their natural behaviour and kept in inadequate conditions.
"Stricter controls need to be in place to stop the influx of exotic animals into the country. What health checks are being carried out to ensure that these animals are physically and psychologically healthy? Furthermore, what assurances are there that these animals do not pose a risk to the visitors, including children?"
They said that as long as people continued to visit these establishments, they were contributing to the misery of the animals and encouraging the importation and breeding of even more animals.
Zoos should be made to cease operating immediately and those operating illegally should have their zoos closed down and be heavily fined. The funds generated should go towards the long term upkeep of those animals in a manner conducive to their optimal well-being.