A Lion, Lynx, Pumas and Jungle Cats housed at MonteKristo were moved to bigger homes within the same area this morning.

The Polidano Group in a statement issued through their legal adviser said this transfer was part of its commitment to offer the animals housed at MonteKristo the best environment possible.

Reacting to a statement issued earlier this week by NGO’s the group said all animals housed at MonteKristo were purchased from zoos and breeders within the EU, and were all certified according to CITES and other international standards.

All animals had the required documentation at law when they were imported and such documentation was handed over for examination and approval by the competent authorities since 2009.

Eight non-governmental organisations had 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.

Montekristo Estates Animal Park has been served with at least two warning letters from the Veterinary Directorate because of the poor conditions animals are kept in, but no move has been made to close it down.

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.