Partit Momentum Calls For Public Safety Reassurance After Big Cat Reports

Partit Momentum has expressed ‘serious concern following reports and CCTV footage showing a dark feline falling into the streets of Cospicua.’

Animal activists, the party said, believe the animal could be a young panther, ‘while authorities have continued to insist that no wild cat is on the loose.’

Animal Welfare confirmed yesterday that a wild cat was not on the loose after it was immediately secured by its owner.

A video circulating on social media appears to show a young wild cat descending multiple storeys from an open balcony before landing on the ground.

The footage is being widely shared online, with the location suggested to be in the Cospicua area last Tuesday. Authorities have not officially confirmed whether the video is directly linked to the reported case.

The Commissioner for Animal Welfare continued to state that such an animal requires specialised care and facilities that cannot be provided within a residential home.

Partit Momentum called for a clear public statement confirming whether any dangerous animal may be at large, to provide reassurance that there is no risk to residents, families or the educational facilities in the vicinity, publish steps being taken to verify the footage and investigate the incident, and confirm what monitoring or patrol measures are in place.

The party added that if investigations confirm that the animal originated from illegal private ownership, the animal has to be immediately confiscated, with strong criminal penalties being issued for the possession. The party also insisted on the permanent prohibition on future ownership of exotic or dangerous species.

‘The country deserves clarity, not confusion. When credible footage emerges of a potentially dangerous wild animal in an urban area, dismissing public concern without transparent investigation risks gaslighting the Maltese public and undermining trust in the institutions responsible for safety.’

#MaltaDaily