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.

The Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretariat confirmed the site owned by Polidano Brothers was in breach of the Animal Welfare Act.

However, despite legal provisions allowing for penalties to be imposed and for the place to be shut down, the animal park continues to profit from exotic animals held in poor conditions.

Donation is for the animals so we can feed them rib eye

Some 20 wild animals from different species at the park benefit from international protection and their trade is banned.

These include pumas, jungle cats, Eurasian lynxes, Barbary macaques (monkeys), ring-tailed lemurs as well as a Caracal (a territorial cat), a lion and an Ocelot.

While space at Montekristo Estates is abundant, the wild animals are confined to cages too small for their well-being.

These animals are separated from the public by a single fence, when there should be at least a double fence to prevent visitors from potential injury.

The caracal is a fiercely territorial cat that hunts by stalking its prey but its cage at the animal park is a far cry from its usual hunting territory. Right: Sign for the Barbary macaques. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli

The park does not hold the necessary permit from the planning authority to operate as a zoo – this is defined legally as a permanent establishment where animals of wild species are kept for exhibition to the public for seven or more days a year, with the exception of circuses and pet shops.

Although the park fits this description, hosting wild animals in zoos is only permitted if it adheres to a number of conditions.

The latest warning to Montekristo park last April noted that the establishment could not host wild animals unless it took part in research from which conservation benefits accrued to the species.

There must also be sufficient promotion through education and awareness-raising on the conservation of biodiversity.

One important shortfall the warning letter points out is that not all animals are being housed in a way that satisfies the biological and conservation requirements of the individual species.

When Times of Malta visited the site this week, entrance was subject to a “donation”. When staff members were asked what the donation went towards, they said, “it is for the animals, so we can feed them rib eye”.

The animal park is hosted on an illegally developed site subject to an enforcement notice issued in 2008 against Polidano Brothers.

In September 2012, the planning authority initiated criminal court proceedings against the owner. Last year, the court stopped Mepa from demolishing the illegal structures on site.

Paul Polidano, one of the brothers, did not wish to comment. Attempts to reach the other, Charles Polidano, failed.