“We have saved many animals from this filthy, unsanitary and unkept dumpsite over the years by jumping over the fence at night as it was the only way. Some animals died in our hands, despite doing our best to save them, while others received medical care and were re-homed.”

The sanctuary thanked the Gżira local council for deciding to remove it at a recent meeting and pledged to continue catching the remaining animals, giving them medical care and rehoming them.

A volunteer-run structure, Duck Village has been around for several years, with locals and tourists alike often stopping by to watch and feed the ducks.

However, serious concerns have been raised about the filthy conditions the animals were made to live in.

“Animals being kept in filthy, unsanitary conditions in a room at the back. Some animals had no water, some had absolutely filthy stagnant water with leeches inside, some had no food, while the rabbits had chicken feed in their bowls and zero hay,” Animal Liberation Malta said earlier this summer.

Gżira mayor Conrad Borg Manche told Lovin Malta that the elderly man who has been managing Duck Village since its inception wasn’t taking care of the animals and the area was attracting rats.

Cover photos: Sunshine Animal Sanctuary 

Will you miss Duck Village?