Activists and ADPD push for tougher wild animal laws; Public urged to sign petition

ADPD – The Green Party has expressed strong concern over the procurement and confinement of exotic animals, stating that such practices contradict the core principles of animal welfare. In a statement issued by party spokesperson and International Secretary Mark Zerafa, ADPD called for a prohibition, or at the very least, stricter regulation, of the private ownership of wild and exotic animals.

“Animals evolved to live in forests or savannahs often exhibit signs of stress and abnormal behaviour in captivity,” Zerafa said. He emphasised that current regulations fall short, pointing out that owners are not sufficiently vetted to ensure they have the skills, facilities, or knowledge to properly care for these animals.

The party also criticised the Government’s recent amnesty that led to the registration of 96 previously undocumented wild animals, including big cats and primates. Zerafa said the development reveals a troubling reality: a significant number of exotic animals may have been imported or smuggled without proper documentation.

While ADPD acknowledges that registration is a step in the right direction, it aligns with Veggie Malta in insisting that documentation of origin must also be mandatory. “These species are often endangered, and we must be certain they were not poached from the wild,” Zerafa added.

Adding to the growing pressure for accountability, animal rights groups Vuċi għall-Annimali and Animal Liberation Malta have launched a public petition demanding full enforcement of Malta’s dangerous animal and zoo laws. Citing the recent case of illegally held lions in Naxxar, later regularised despite legal breaches, the petition calls for the immediate confiscation of such animals, proper enforcement of cage and neutering regulations, and a transition toward a “positive list” that limits the types of animals allowed in captivity.

The petition highlights a shared concern among activists and environmentalists that Malta risks becoming a haven for unregulated private collections and illegal wildlife trade.  Members of the public who wish to support this initiative can sign the petition here.

The party advocates for confiscation of animals in cases where owners cannot produce the required legal documentation. These animals, it says, should be relocated to facilities capable of meeting their complex physical and psychological needs.

Malta, a signatory to the CITES convention since 1989, has come under scrutiny for its role in the illegal trade of endangered primates. ADPD stressed the urgent need to uphold international commitments and tighten enforcement mechanisms to curb this illicit trade.

Ruth Zammit

News Editor
Journalist and Newscaster