Animal and Environmental NGOs/Activists Call on Director of Animal Welfare Not to Issue Zoo Licence for Montekristo Estate
- vuciwebsite
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Over 20 organisations and activists demand legal accountability and urge the Directorate to reject any licensing of Montekristo, citing a long history of violations.
A coalition of animal welfare and environmental NGOs, alongside numerous individual activists, has issued a strong call to the Director of the Animal Welfare Directorate, Mr Joseph-John Vella, urging him not to issue any zoo or animal-related licence to Montekristo Estate.
In an open letter delivered this week, the signatories cite Montekristo’s well-documented record of legal breaches—including a 2020 Criminal Court ruling (91/2015)—and accuse the estate of continuing to operate as an unlicensed zoo in breach of national legislation.
The groups stress that, under Legal Notice 199 of 2024, any individual or entity found guilty of offences under the Animal Welfare Act should be disqualified from keeping animals or operating any animal facility.
They also raise serious concerns over the estate being sanctioned through irregular planning procedures, warning that such developments must not influence decisions that fall under the independent remit of the Animal Welfare Directorate.
“A planning permit cannot override the law, and it certainly cannot justify the keeping of animals in conditions that have repeatedly breached regulations,” the letter states. “The Directorate must remain focused solely on animal welfare, without yielding to political or commercial pressure.”
The signatories argue that no licence should be granted while criminal proceedings remain pending, and call on the Directorate to take enforcement action against what they describe as an ongoing illegal operation.
“This is a defining moment for animal welfare in Malta,” the letter continues. “Granting a licence to Montekristo would set a dangerous precedent: that those who violate the law can simply wait out enforcement and return to business as usual.”
The letter ends with a message of solidarity and support, urging the Director to uphold the law, protect animals, and ensure that justice and compassion are placed above all else.
The Animal Welfare Directorate has not yet commented on the letter.
Signatories:
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 Malta
Noah’s Ark
Our Rescues Malta Foundation
Paws for Cause
Ramblers Association of Malta
Real Animal Rights (RAR)
Rescued Cats
MaltaSVDP Cat Café
The Island Sanctuary
Individual Activists:
Connie Tonna
David Azzopardi Pace
Fabrizia Zarb
Fabio Spiteri
Jason Muscat
Joyce Scerri
Lourdes Zarb
Maxine Borg
Michelle Marie Borg
Petra Bonello
Tiziana Carannante
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