When boys his age were busy dreaming of owning the latest Ferrari or becoming the next Diego Maradona, Birdpark Malta director Kevin Mallia wanted to buy Comino and turn it into a nature reserve.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and Mr Mallia might still not be the King of Comino but he does run his own sanctuary just outside Kennedy Grove in St Paul’s Bay.

Spanning 5,000 square metres and hosting 370 species, the park is soon to open to the public after it started 11 years ago as a hobby for Mr Mallia, who eventually had to leave his job and focus on his project full-time.

Mr Mallia hopes the park, with its rich variety, will attract wild species to breed in Malta, which he says has a perfect climate for birds.

Birdpark Malta is being developed at a cost of €380,000, €190,000 of which come from the EU Agricultural Funds for Rural Development and national funds.

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