Do not grant zoo licence to Montekristo, animal welfare director urged
Sanctioning by the PA should not mean that a zoo licence can now be granted, NGOs insist
Animal welfare and environmental NGOs have urged the Animal Welfare Director not to grant a zoo licence to Montekristo Estate despite its recent sanctioning by the Planning Authority.
"As you are aware, the operators of Montekristo have a long and well-documented history of non-compliance with both environmental and animal welfare legislation, including a decision by the Criminal Court of Magistrates in 2020 (91/2015)," the NGOs said in an open letter to the director, Joseph-John Vella.
The groups said they were still waiting for court action against Montekristo for operating an illegal zoo.
"This track record should, in itself, disqualify Montekristo from being entrusted with the responsibility of caring for any animals as per legislation L.N. 199 of 2024," the organisations said.
"No licence should be granted until any pending prosecution has commenced and the outcome in the criminal courts is determined," they added.
The NGO said they were also concerned by recent developments whereby Montekristo was sanctioned, in defiance of Planning Authority guidelines.
"This not only encourages others to abuse, but might instigate other institutions to consider regularising Montekristo’s activities through their irregular planning process. However, we stress that a sanction by one authority does not, and must not, compromise the role and responsibility of another. A planning permit does not equate to ethical or legal eligibility to keep animals," the NGOs said.
"Granting a licence in this case would send a dangerous message: that individuals or entities who break the law repeatedly can simply wait out the storm, pay fines, and return to business as usual. This would be an unforgivable betrayal of the animals we are all duty-bound to protect."
The open letter was signed by Vuċi għall-Annimali, Angel4paws, Animal Alliance, Animal Liberation Malta, Association for Abandoned Animals (AAA), Birdlife Malta, Carers for stray and abandoned felines (CSAF), Cats without Voice, CLAWS, Debbie’s little Darlings, FAA - Flimkien għal ambjent aħjar, Fostering and homing paws - Fiona Broome, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gozo SPCA, Help us Help (HUH), Innocent Paws - Maria D’Amato, Kitty Guardians for Strays, MSPCA, National cat society (thomasina), Nature Trust, Noah’s ark, Our Rescues Malta Foundation, Paws for cause, Ramblers Association of Malta, Real Animal Rights (RAR), Rescued Cats Malta, SVDP Cat cafe, The Island Sanctuary and several activists.