Malta’s Animal Commissioner has appealed to the public for any and all footage of a live circus show that involved a living animal held in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq last week.

“Any audience members that may have attended the Cirkella Circus show on 22nd December and has video footage of a live animal being used as part of an act, please contact our office,” Alison Bezzina said in her appeal.

“And even if you do not have footage but witnessed the incident and would be ready to testify about what you saw, please get in contact.”

Anyone who would like to contact the Animal Commissioner can do so by emailing: [email protected]

Speaking to Lovin Malta, Bezzina said she was looking into the incident after police intervened to remove a duck that had been used as part of a live act in front of an audience made up of families and children.

“The more people that were there and can come forward, the better,” Bezzina said.

Authorities were alerted to the alleged animal abuse after a Maltese woman called police after seeing the incident firsthand, when a circus performer pulled out a real duck and started throwing it at the crowd repeatedly.

‘‘Each time the duck hit the metal stands or the stone floor, it struggled to move before being grabbed and launched into the air again,” Grech recounted, livid at what she saw.

When her boyfriend asked the organiser whether he thought that part of the show was morally right, he allegedly replied with: ‘‘Are you implying that I like to torture animals?’’

Grech called the police to report what she had seen.

Speaking to Lovin Malta, a police spokesperson confirmed that the report had been received – and that the animal in question had been confiscated from the circus and handed over to animal experts.

“A report was lodged on 22nd December upon which the police acted immediately by calling on site and initiated the necessary investigations. The mentioned animal was handed over to the Animal Welfare Services, while the investigations are still ongoing,” police said.