Environment NGOs have condemned the authorities for ignoring the illegalities and animal welfare issues at the Montekristo Estate.
“It makes no sense for the government to profess zero tolerance on illegalities and pass harsher laws for animal abuse when in the end the same authorities fail miserably to take action and fail to demonstrate the zero tolerance promised,” a group of eight organisations said in a statement.
The planning watchdog and the Animal Welfare Department were taken to task by NGOs Birdlife Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Malta Organic Agriculture Movement, Moviment Graffiti, Nature Trust Malta and the Ramblers’ Association.
The reaction comes after stories in two consecutive editions of The Sunday Times of Malta that reported that Mepa had halted fresh illegal development at the Montekristo Estate.
They also reported that criminal action would be taken against the estate’s owner, Charles Polidano, iċ-Ċaqnu, because his animal farm on site, which houses many exotic animals, breaches the Animal Welfare Act. The NGOs questioned how 20 internationally protected wild animals, whose trade is banned, made it to Malta and called for a thorough investigation on how these animals were brought into Malta.
The NGOs feel that despite the government’s commitment in the electoral manifesto, nothing tangible is being done.
Through his lawyer, Jean Paul Sammut, Mr Polidano reacted to the news of the charges by pointing out he had filed a permit request to expand his animal facilities in 2010, to be able to house them more comfortably and according to the legal requirements.
However, the NGOs argued it was “ludicrous and rather rich that Polidano group is blaming Mepa for the animals’ inadequate cages. With 55 enforcement notices up till 2013, it is obvious that this company feels it is above the law.”
The issue of animal welfare cannot wait any further, said the NGOs, since animals were suffering while the authorities were dragging their feet.
They lashed out at the Animal Rights’ Parliamentary Secretariat – which had banned animal circuses – arguing that the same arguments that apply to circuses also apply to the confinement of animals in so-called zoos.
To add insult to injury, the Montekristo Estate was recently allowed to hold a trade fair, despite all the illegalities on site.
In a separate statement, the Animal Rights Coalition also expressed concern that nothing was being done to tackle the issue of illegal zoos.
“Stricter controls need to be in place to stop the influx of exotic animals into the country,” they said, also appealing for zoo owners operating illegally to be heavily fined and have their business closed down.