According to information obtained by the animals rights group Vuċi għall-Annimali, in Malta there are up to 94 wild animals in an enclosure of an average size 127.24 square meters. 29 of these wild cats, and 50 others are primates. The information came from a Freedom of Information Request about the keeping of wild animals by private individuals of those who were granted an amnesty to register their wild animals. You can find the information and data here.
The animals rights group stated there is missing information about many of these animals including their age and noted the missing documentation of many of these animals despite regulations and obligations.
The animals rights group also highlighted that the Mediterraneo marine park is operating as an illegal circus and they also indicated that the condition of the dolphins and other animals kept at the park has deteriorated along the years.
The Labour government has legalised the keeping and the trading of wild animals and gave an amnesty to owners who illegally owned wild animals. Most of these animals are kept in private residences owned by people with a history of illegalities. Many of the owners have a significant bad reputation in keeping these wild animals, and this is also inevitable due to Malta’s constraints.
The Labour Party had a progressive policy towards animals rights and even banned animal circuses under the previous Joseph Muscat administrations. It changed its policy under the administration of Prime Minister Robert Abela.
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