Montekristo Estates is promoting weekly displays of two new tiger cubs and one new puma cub at its unlicensed and illegal zoo, with no sign of law enforcement authorities clamping down.

The zoo is charging an entrance fee of €10 per adult and €8 per child for an opportunity to see Masco and Elsa, the tiger cubs, and Reno the puma cub during weekends. A “show” is held every morning and afternoon.

The move comes as Parliament approved a Bill last week prohibiting animal circuses as well as introducing harsher criminal sanctions against those found guilty of animal cruelty.

Meanwhile, the police have not taken any action against the owner of the illegal zoo, Charles Polidano known as Iċ-Ċaqnu, despite a request made by the Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretariat six months ago.

Last April, the secretariat wrote to the police commissioner with instructions to take action against Mr Polidano after two warning letters sent to him were ignored.

The illegal zoo already hosts over 60 different species that benefit from international protection under Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

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