Watch: Police Secure Lions and Panther Found in Naxxar And Restrict Public Access
Police officers have been dispatched to guard four lions and a panther that were recently discovered in an abandoned state in a Naxxar property.
As Malta doesn’t have a sanctuary equipped for large cats, the animals are being kept on site for the time being, with officers instructed to keep passers-by away from the vicinity.
The shocking case was flagged by the Vuċi Għall-Annimali movement, which received a report about the animals from a passer-by and reported it to the authorities. They had reportedly been neglected for such a long time that one lion was found to have been eaten by the others.
Discussions are underway with regards to their future, with Vuċi Għall-Annimali stating they could be sent to a foreign sanctuary.
While the police are investigating the case, the extent of potential criminal action remains unclear. The property owner is believed to have rented out the place to the owner of the lions and the panther to a third party but it is unclear whether he has disclosed that person’s identity to the police.
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