FOUR PAWS mission neuters tigers and leopard at L-Arka ta’ Noè

FOUR PAWS has completed a three-day veterinary mission at L-Arka ta’ Noè, neutered two male tigers and one male leopard in a bid to prevent the future breeding of big cats at commercial facilities following changes to Maltese law.

Under the new legal requirements, private keepers must sterilise their big cats, while commercial and zoological facilities may only breed them with special permits. FOUR PAWS welcomed L-Arka ta’ Noè's decision to voluntarily exit big cat breeding despite not being legally obliged to do so.

The treated tiger pair was moved into a larger enclosure to improve their overall keeping conditions. Although some veterinary examination results are still pending, FOUR PAWS said it will remain in contact with the owner to recommend further improvements.

The global animal welfare organisation’s mission also assessed the overall health and welfare of the animals. 

As part of this, one female tiger underwent a physical examination, blood sampling, ultrasound scans and X-rays to assess her current health status.

“Malta’s decision to improve the legislation on the breeding of big cats in captivity is a major step forward for animal welfare,” Spokesperson for FOUR PAWS Patricia Tiplea said. “We welcome the decision of the owner of L-Arka ta’ Noè to withdraw from the big cat breeding industry and hope that other facilities, both commercial and private, will follow.”  

However, FOUR PAWS stressed that the call for change goes beyond the facility. It reiterated its appeal for Malta to curb the commercial trade in big cats and introduce a Positive List specifying which animals may be kept privately.

The organisation said that, unlike a Negative List, which attempts to ban certain species reactively, a Positive List would provide clarity for enforcement authorities, improve public safety and prevent the exploitation of wild animals whose complex needs cannot be met in private keeping.

The organisation added that it is open to assisting owners of big cats and bears in Malta who are willing to exit the industry by providing veterinary checks and neutering. It said it remains committed to working with local authorities to tackle the issue and help the remaining captive big cats and bears.

FOUR PAWS concluded by encouraging other owners to follow this example by neutering their animals and gradually exiting the breeding and keeping of big cats.