The Planning Authority’s controversial decision to sanction the illegal Montekristo zoo has sparked intense criticism from both political and civil society groups, with political party Momentum and animal rights movement Vuċi għall-Annimali denouncing what they describe as a dangerous endorsement of impunity, environmental destruction, and animal exploitation.
Momentum condemned the 9-2 vote as “a calculated betrayal of public interest,” arguing that the decision rewards two decades of lawbreaking by developer Charles Polidano. The zoo, built illegally on 45,000 square metres of protected ODZ land, has long faced enforcement orders and fines, none of which stopped its expansion.
Executive Committee Member Katya Compagno did not mince words, stating, “This is not a planning decision. It is the institutionalisation of a shakedown.” Momentum accused the Labour Government of presiding over a “two-tier system of justice” where “laws are for the little people” while the powerful walk free. The party is calling for urgent legislative reform to permanently outlaw the sanctioning of illegal ODZ developments.
Animal advocacy group Vuċi għall-Annimali also expressed outrage, focusing on the zoo’s ongoing violations of animal welfare laws. The group emphasised that the Planning Authority’s approval does not negate the zoo’s failure to meet the legal requirements for an operating licence. It is demanding an unequivocal commitment from the Animal Welfare Directorate that no licence will be granted -no matter the political or financial pressure.
“Despite losing in court, Montekristo continues to operate illegally,” the group said. “Animal Welfare cannot follow the Planning Authority’s surrender. Enforcement is not optional – it’s the law.”
Both groups assert that this decision sends a toxic message to the public: that in Malta, wealth and connections can override legality and ethics. While the Planning Authority cited aesthetic and environmental justifications for the zoo, many say these are nothing more than cynical distractions from the core issue – systemic impunity.
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