Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1290275
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE owner of the Noah's Ark zoo in Siggiewi wants the green light for a 20,000sq.m extension that will also regularise an illegally-built masonry wall fencing the site. Details of the master plan present- ed by owner Anton Cutajar in 2019 only appeared recently, after the Planning Authority started publish- ing the description of applications still at screening stage, partially re- versing a controversial decision to delete details of these preliminary applications from its website. Plans related to these applications remain inaccessible. Screening applications are often altered drastically to address issues raised by the PA itself, and the re- quest may never reach the full appli- cation stage. In this case the appli- cation has been in screening stage for over 18 months. Cutajar, an anti-immigration fire- brand who picketed a Black Lives Protest in Valletta, wants his zoo LAUR A CALLEJA AN animal welfare group wants minister Anton Refalo to overhaul the laws regulating zoos, and a memorandum to stop the importa- tion of exotic species. Time For Change argued that the conditions in which animals are kept is not in line with accepted welfare standards. "There is a growing concern re- garding the number of wild species kept in Maltese zoos and their un- controlled breeding," Ariane Aqui- lina told MaltaToday, referring to European directives on the keeping of wild animals in zoos. She said that the legal obligation of zookeepers, as transposed to Maltese laws, had been kept vague, creating issues for their application and enforcement. "Zoos are a com- plex and multidisciplinary issue, but we consider that the legislation reg- ulating the area needs to be amend- ed to create a more structured set of regulations and, in turn, facilitate more effective enforcement," Aqui- lina said. Time For Change drafted propos- als for clearer laws which will in- clude stronger enforcement, more stringent licensing requirements and accreditation from internation- ally recognised bodies. They want zoo licences to be issued for definite periods, and amended when the zoo acquires a new animal. The licensee would have to submit Planning Authori- ty permits for their enclosures and environmental impact assessments to make sure the zoo is operating in line with standards. They want licence-holders to prove that their animals are ac- quired legally, and detail how their establishment aims to conserve bio- diversity, provide public education and protect animal welfare. They also said that in- Zookeeper wants major extension Anti-immigrant firebrand who picketed Black Lives Matters protest wants 20,000sq.m extension to his once-illegal zoo Stop exotic animal imports, says group seeking controls on zoos