The arrival of a Bengal tiger in 2009 exposed the lack of rules on the importation of exotic animals. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Malta is no place for lions and tigers, according to the Animal Welfare Commissioner, who however does not believe in a total ban of dangerous animals.

“I personally do not think there is a place for animals such as tigers and lions in Malta, considering the space they need and the size of our country,” Emanuel Buhagiar told this newspaper.

“On the other hand, I do not agree with a total ban because there are a lot of animals that can be considered dangerous, and that is why we need regulations like these.”

Mr Buhagiar was contacted following the publication of regulations which fall short of a ban of dangerous animals and instead recommend safety measures for animal owners, including keeping a venom antidote and tranquiliser gun, CCTV monitoring, “sturdy” enclosures, and even training in animal rearing.

“The term ‘dangerous animals’ is vast and the proposed regulations in fact leave it up to the Veterinary Director to deem an animal dangerous,” Mr Buhagiar said.

Drawing up a list of dangerous animals would not be easy because there are thousands of species and genera, and even a dog that bit or assaulted a person is considered dangerous.

According to the commissioner, the proposed regulations, which are up for public consultation, were drafted professionally and were “urgently” needed not just for the welfare of animals, but also for people’s safety.

These regulations, he added, ensured control by the Directorate of Veterinarians and the Animal Welfare from when a person decided they wanted to import a dangerous animal. So far, the only control in place is that imported animals need a passport showing they came through customs and border inspection and were checked by a vet.

The term ‘dangerous animals’ is vast and the proposed regulations in fact leave it up to the Veterinary Director to deem an animal dangerous

Now, before they import the animal, people need to get the director’s approval and satisfy other criteria, including how the animal will be tagged, where they will be kept, whether they need a sedative, antidote, or weapon, and proof they knew how to rear the animal. Some enclosures will also need safety measures like an anteroom and have to be robust enough so that the animal does not escape.

The Parliamentary Secretariat for Animal Rights insisted yesterday that owning such species could not be taken for granted and everyone had to assume responsibility to safeguard public health, animal welfare and the natural environment.

“We do not want a situation like that in England, where the invasive grey squirrel prevailed on the native red squirrel which is now facing extinction.”

The control of alien species is also one of the priorities of the Malta Herpetological Society, which was set up to promote the conservation of local and exotic reptiles and raise awareness about responsible ownership.

Asked whether he knew of venomous snakes in Malta, spokesman Chris McGowan said they were not aware of such snakes, apart from the local cat snake which did not cause harm to humans.

Out of 3,000 species of snakes, less than 500 were venomous, however, a large percentage of these did not kill people, he noted.

The society believes no one on the island should keep venomous snakes that could cause serious harm to people. The only time keeping such a snake was justifiable was in the case of research.

Keeping anti-venom at hand was not simple as it had a very short shelf life and there should be strict caging guidelines, Mr McGowan added.

Asked about the dangers of hosting large snakes, Mr McGowan said he understood the fears but there have been large snakes in Malta for more than 20 years and yet not one case of serious injury.

Referring to American statistics, he added that while keeping large snakes could be slightly hazardous to its keeper, it was not a public safety issue.

The Parliamentary Secretariat for Animal Rights on the proposals:

Why is the government even considering allowing the importation of dangerous animals, considering Malta’s limited space?

There are different classification and sizes of dangerous animals, from the red-backed poison frog to the Alaskan bear. It’s our intention that highly dangerous animals will not be allowed in households or private collections, but only for display and scientific research in zoos or dedicated establishments.

Is having an antidote enough to ensure public safety in cases when a poisonous animal escapes?

Nothing is enough when it comes to public safety. However, possessing an antidote is restrictive in itself due to its commercial value, availability and the necessary clearances from health authorities. If a person does not have an antidote or adequate enclosure before the animal is brought over, they will not be allowed to import it.

Will people keeping animals such as crocodiles/alligators have to get rid of their pets?

This is still up for discussion through public consultation. However crocodiles/alligators and other extremely dangerous animals will for sure only be allowed in zoos.

Are there any people in Malta who are trained in the rearing of exotic animals?

Yes there are. There are also clubs whose expertise is sometimes sought by the Animal Welfare or Veterinary Department. Also up for consultation is the requirement of membership in an organisation.

How are you going to ensure avoiding the release of invasive species in the wild?

The law stipulates owners have to report the incident and these species have to be identifiable through a tattoo or a microchip.