Worried about the welfare of the increasing number of reptilian pets, SPCA Malta has set up a division to raise awareness and provide advice on how to take care of such species.
Reptiles are becoming more popular throughout Europe but there is very little information about their proper care and much of what is known is outdated or wrong, according to SPCA’s chief operations officer Sarah De Cesare Dunkerley.
As a result, a large number of pet tortoises and turtles die within a year and SPCA hopes to ease the unnecessary suffering, disease and death among pet reptiles in Malta through its new information campaign.
The new division was officially launched on Saturday, World Turtle Day, and will hold its first activity tomorrow at the SPCA Mad Hatter Fair at the Maria Rosa Winery, Attard, between 11am and 7pm.
Sulcata tortoise would need whole room
There will be a display of five species of tortoises and freshwater turtles. Geraldine Griffiths, a former volunteer with Turtle Rescue UK, will be providing advice on how to care for such reptiles.
Ms Griffiths owns 28 freshwater turtles and tortoises, 26 of which were rescued when they were abandoned in cardboard boxes and parks, among others. Only one was rescued in Malta. She said SPCA was not encouraging people to import reptiles and warned against the illegal importation of reptiles for fear of spreading diseases.
She raised the alarm about the Sulcata tortoise, known as the African spurred tortoise, sold in Malta. This is the third largest species in the world and could grow up to 90cm in length and weigh 70kg.
People did not realise it could grow so much and that they might even have to give up a whole room in their house to host the tortoise in the cold winter months, Ms Griffiths said.
The reptile division, she added, would be raising awareness about different species, provide information about signs of disease and a contact list of specialist vets. However, it did not yet have the facilities to host abandoned reptiles.
For more information on go to www.spcamalta. org/ reptiles.