The Malta Independen
DUNCAN BARRY speaks to the co-founders of the Malta
Herpetological Society, Arnold Sciberras and Chris McGowan, who have expressed
concerns over the lack of specialised knowledge of some owners and in the
private business sector in the upkeep and trading of exotic animals imported to
Malta. In a bid to raise awareness, the society’s representatives have embarked
on a campaign to protect the health of exotic animals, maintain public safety
and the country’s ecological integrity.
The Malta Herpetological Society – founded this year to
promote the scientific study and conservation of local wild herpetofauna and
education for the responsible ownership of herps and related animals –
expressed concerns over the “responsible” ownership of exotic animals imported
to Malta, pointing out that the upkeep and trading of exotic animals entails
much more than one may think.
According to the society, those seeking these unusual
animals cannot ignore the threats these animals may face as a result of poor
knowledge.
Mr Sciberras and Mr McGowan said one of the society’s main
concerns is that exotic animals being imported to Malta are in some rare
instances being released into Maltese wildlife, ending up alien to the
environment, the result: a negative effect on local biodiversity and greatly
decreasing the animal’s chances of survival.
The two also said that some of those owning or trading in
reptiles or amphibians don’t always have the proper knowledge on how to treat
such animals while more awareness needed to be raised among the public in
general to highlight that reptiles don’t necessarily pose a risk to humans.
Their calls follow a number of incidents that hit headlines
involving exotic animals imported to Malta, mainly referring to the case of ‘Skittles’,
the five-foot Rainbow Boa that went missing last year and had been found dead
near the Junior College in Msida.
Mr Sciberras also referred to another case, this time
involving an imported frog which was dumped in Gozo back in 2004 and since then
believes has contributed to the destruction of some dragon fly species frogs
rely on to survive while also pointing out that it is “competing” with the
local frog species.
The owner of the boa constrictor had claimed that it is very
gentle and docile and there was no reason for alarm, requesting help from the
public. He had appealed to anyone who was not scared of the snake to gently
scoop it up from its belly and place it in a box. At the time, a vet had also
confirmed that the snake was neither aggressive or nor venomous.
However, two weeks after its escape, the boa was found dead
after reportedly having been run-over by a vehicle.
Mr McGowan pointed out that reports of snake sightings in
the Kennedy Grove area has so far always turned out to be local snake species,
which meant that most people were not aware that Malta played host to four
different snake species.
“How many out there are aware of the fact that four
different species of snakes breed on the islands, one of which is mildly
venomous,” they asked, referring to the cat snake, while emphasizing that its
bite is not fatal.
Mr McGowan, interested in the subject since childhood, and
who has conducted a number of presentations on the subject in different
countries, said that the society has forwarded a number of proposals to the
Malta Environment and Planning Authority on how best to enhance awareness and
education to lessen the unfounded fears and scaremongering among the public, as
well as guidance for amateur breeders and the private sector, referring to pet
shops.
They said that the authorities should also re-evaluate
between which animal should be legally imported and ones that should be banned
from being imported to our islands.
He said that it is vital studies are conducted to establish
how many people own reptiles or amphibians in Malta while also emphasising that
some pet shop owners and amateur breeders needed to be better informed of what
measures, such as the right type and amount of lighting and heating, should be
used when when taking care of exotic animals.
The society covers many branches related to herpetofauna
activity in Malta, including animal welfare and education for the responsible
ownership of exotic animals, and ‘herping’, deriving from the word
herpatologists - an activity or technique used to search for species under
natural cover objects such as rocks and logs.
While the society endorses caging standards, sound
husbandry, escape prevention, and an integrated approach to vital conservation
issues and control of alien species, the society’s main goal is to enhance
cooperation between the authorities, the scientific community, and the private
sector in order to produce policy proposals that will effectively address
important animal welfare, husbandry and conservation issues.
“The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining
ecological integrity are the primary concerns of this NGO,” Mr Sciberras said.
While urging the public to handle exotic animals with care
and respect, the NGO urged all those seeking information on exotic animals to
turn to the society by contacting it through its Facebook account www.facebook.com/groups/MHSMalta/
Turning to local species, they highlighted that it is
illegal to even touch let alone collect local snake species.
They said that they are willing to support anyone requiring
any information on exotic animals.
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