Wild animals belong in the wild, says MSPCA

The Malta Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (MSPCA) believes that Malta should learn from the unfortunate Tuesday fire at the Mtahleb Animal Park, and that the competent authorities should perform the necessary audits to ensure that wellbeing, health and safety standards are maintained.

“Furthermore MSPCA is concerned with the growing reports of wild animals in so called private collections. MSPCA urges the authorities to monitor this and other operations to prevent further deterioration in Malta as wild animals, even in private collections, have made the news before for all the wrong reasons.”

The MSPCA is saddened by the unnecessary death of the animals killed in the fire at Wildlife Park Malta, “while animal lovers all over social media are expressing their anger that this happened.

“Wildlife Park Malta held a license to run a zoo and was home to several wild animals. Following the fire on Monday morning, several animals have had to be displaced as their enclosures are no longer safe or secure, while two leopards, three parrots, two lemurs, two monkeys and a squirrel monkey were less fortunate and died in the fire. While this nightmare unfolds MSPCA hopes that these animals are not further stressed by being kept in make-shift enclosures that weren’t made for them or being sent to private collections in even worse conditions.

“In principle MSPCA strongly believes that wild animals do not belong in captivity unless it is unsafe for them to be released and questions the quality of life captive wildlife can have in a country like Malta. Across the world zoos are turning their focus to education and conservation efforts.”