Charges have been filed against Charles Polidano, known as Ċaqnu, over infringements at the Montekristo Animal Park a year after a request was made by the Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretariat.

The police have confirmed the first hearing is scheduled for April 21 for the case to be heard before Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona. The police would not confirm what the charges were, saying they would be made public once the case was heard.

The information came in reply to questions by The Sunday Times of Malta asking whether police had taken any action against Mr Polidano following the request made last April by the veterinary services department, which falls under the Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretariat led by Roderick Galdes.

The illegal zoo hosts nine reptiles, 165 mammals and over 1,000 birds, according to information tabled in Parliament.

They include two jaguars, three jungle cats, three lions, two pumas, two red foxes, three ringed lemurs, four tigers and eight flamingos.

The collection includes over 60 different species benefiting from international protection under Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, according to Mepa.