Call for transparency and public safety reassurance after Cospicua big-cat reports
Momentum expresses serious concern following reports and CCTV footage showing a dark feline falling into the streets of Cospicua, which animal activists believe could be a young panther, while authorities have continued to insist that no wild cat is on the loose.
The country deserves clarity, not confusion. When credible footage emerges of a potentially dangerous wild animal in an urban area, dismissing public concern without transparent investigation risks gaslighting the Maltese public and undermining trust in the institutions responsible for safety.
Momentum therefore calls on the relevant authorities, including the police, civil protection, veterinary services and animal welfare regulators, to immediately:
- Issue a clear public statement confirming whether any dangerous animal may be at large
- Provide reassurance that there is no risk to residents, families, or the many schools and educational institutions in the vicinity
- Publish the steps being taken to verify the footage and investigate the incident
- Confirm what monitoring or patrol measures are currently in place
Parents, educators and residents in the Cottonera area should not be left relying on social media speculation to understand whether their communities are safe.
If investigations confirm that the animal originated from illegal private ownership, Momentum insists that enforcement must be uncompromising. Keeping wild animals in completely inadequate spaces is both cruel and a direct threat to public safety. Such practices must result in:
- Immediate confiscation of the animal
- Strong criminal penalties for illegal possession
- Permanent prohibition on future ownership of exotic or dangerous species
Animal welfare and public safety go hand in hand. Malta already prohibits the private keeping of dangerous exotic animals without proper licensing, and these rules must be actively enforced, rather than just written on paper.
As with the very recent case of the distressed Chimpanzee in Swieqi, we insist on the following measures:
- Introduce a Positive List of species permitted to be kept in Malta, clearly defining which animals are allowed and prohibiting all others by default.
- Establish mandatory, unannounced inspections of zoos, private collections, and wildlife parks.
- Ensure greater transparency in the licensing process for exotic animals, including public access to information on permits and compliance.
- Launch criminal investigations into any exotic animal trade potentially linked to organised crime or money laundering.
Momentum finally reiterates that transparency in matters of public safety is not optional. It is a duty. The public must be informed honestly, promptly, and fully whenever credible risks arise. We all deserve reassurance grounded in facts. Quick dismissals simply help to deepen uncertainty.
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