Luna Park Location Criticised By Animal Welfare Commissioner For Being Close To Ta’ Qali Petting Farm
Animal Welfare Commissioner Alison Bezzina has strongly opposed the decision to locate the Ta’ Qali Luna Park in close proximity to a Petting Farm catering to elderly animals.
“This location is home to elderly farm animals spending their final days and hundreds of birds that are highly sensitive to sound and noise vibrations,” the Commissioner insisted.
The Luna Park is scheduled to open to the public this Saturday, 25th May, and will run until 14th July, operating from 5pm until late.
In a press statement, Bezzina explained, “It is planned for the Luna Park to be open every day for two whole months, and it is unfathomable that out of all the open spaces available, this specific location was chosen for the second consecutive year.”
“Regrettably, the Commission was never consulted. This decision goes against animal welfare principles and sends the wrong message about the respect we should have for animals,” Bezzina continued.
In a comment to Lovin Malta, she explained that while the older farm animals “did not show obvious signs of distress because they have indoor areas which they retreated to when the music was too loud, meaning they had no choice but to stay inside,” the birds had to be relocated given the constant noise and disruption.
For this reason, she has urged the responsible authorities to reconsider the location of the Luna Park and prioritise the health and well-being of the elderly animals at the Petting Farm.
Bezzina is not the only person to criticise the Luna Park’s location, with animal rights activist and television host Moira Delia taking to social media to condemn the move, asking, “Who in their right mind would approve a permit for all that racket right next to a petting farm? ONLY complete imbeciles!”
“But don’t just sit there—speak up! And if no one listens, animal lovers will boycott the Luna Park. This isn’t just about noise; it’s about the birds and the many elderly animals at the farm. They’re going to be living in a nightmare for two whole months just so we can have some fun,” Delia said on Saturday.
While this is the second year the Luna Park will be set up at Ta’ Qali, in previous years, families would flock to Manoel Island, where the popular amusement park opened its doors to the public during the summer months.
Following a subsequent four-year break, the popular Italian Amusement Park announced its return to our shores and its relocation to Ta’ Qali.
Do you think that the location of the amusement park should be reconsidered?