The Malta Independent on Sunday
Malta’s wild side revealed in new book
A new book launched yesterday reveals the secrets of the natural world on the Maltese Islands. Malta’s Top 10 is a guide to the wildlife that visitors and residents alike are most likely to encounter and it also lets readers in on the whereabouts of shy or reclusive creatures that are nor- mally difficult to see.
The book has been a labour of love for the local and international authors: Geoffrey Saliba, Helen Raine, Dr Andre Raine and Jason Raine.
Geoffrey says: “Having worked in conservation in Malta for over a decade, I realised that people appreciate the birds, lizards and fish that they see around and want to know more about them. Our guide is a fun way to get more out a country walk or a swim in the sea and it works for adults and children. We hope that readers will be inspired to see all the species we describe and we also explain how to protect them.”
The book is illustrated with photographs from some of Malta’s finest wildlife photographers, who generously donated their work to help readers identify the species they encounter.
Each chapter of the book explores a different group of species. If you have ever wondered about a gorgeous flowering shrub on a country walk or the moth adorned with a skull underneath your security light, the book will help you to identify them. And spotting a Western Whip Snake or a Fried Egg Jellyfish is made simple with a map and an easy-to-follow guide to their natural habitats.
The book is perfect for tourists who might only have a few hours or days to explore Malta. It also has lots of detail that locals will enjoy, including amazing facts about a snail that fires love darts and an insect that can move faster than the human eye can see (the female also eats the male after copulation). The conservation success story of the Yelkouan Shearwater is described, as well as some of the challenges facing Malta’s wildlife.
Helen Raine says: “I had so much fun putting this book together and I am looking forward to sharing all the information that we uncovered about the wild side of Malta. We’d also like to thank the National Book Council’s Malta Book Fund 2015 for the grant that made this book possible.”
The authors’ website, www.toptenwildlife.com, has a lot of information about the book and local Malta wildlife, and they can also be followed on Facebook – Malta Top 10. The book is available from shops island-wide.