James Debono
Malta Today

Falconry enthusiast Rene Scicluna has filed an application for the
construction of a falconry centre and to sanction illegal works in
Ta' Zgamardi in Siggiewi, where around 30 raptors are being kept in
cages.

The birds, belonging to seven different species including golden
eagles, eagle owls and falcons, are already housed in four-metre high
cages, clearly visible on the illegally developed site.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Scicluna insisted that the animals are tame
and if handled professionally pose absolutely no threat to
anyone. "The eagles are as tame and faithful as dogs and other
domestic animals," Scicluna said, who has also brought over an expert
from the United Kingdom to take care of the animals.

Speaking to MaltaToday in July, Scicluna lamented that the eagles
lacked space as he had to keep them in a room. "Now the eagles have
enough space and can even breed."

Scicluna insists the eagles were brought over legally from European
Union countries. In July the Veterinary Affairs and Fisheries
Division had told MaltaToday that a number of eagles had been legally
imported since Malta joined the EU. According to the division, in
order to keep these raptors for commercial purposes an application
had to be submitted to MEPA for the approval of the veterinary
services.

Scicluna also claims his falconry centre will have an important
educational role. "While visiting the park hunters will start
learning to appreciate these birds of prey while they are still alive
instead of shooting at them."

Scicluna has very close connections to the hunting community as a
partner of hunters' federation secretary Lino Farrugia and other
prominent members of the Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba
Konservazzjonisti in Leisure Field Sports Ltd.

Falconry centres are very popular in the United Kingdom where 30,000
birds are kept in 300 falconry centres. In the UK, falconry is
permitted without a special license, but only using captive-bred
birds. All raptors native to the UK are ringed and registered, and
can be DNA-tested to verify their origins.

Scicluna insists he only wants to emulate falcon centres in the
United Kingdom. "This would even be good for tourism as tourists will
have something different to do," Scicluna claims.

But his illegal development in Siggiewi lies on a rural conservation
area lying outside development zones. In February, he filed an
application for the development of a countryside park for the display
of birds of prey. In 2004, he had applied to sanction and extend an
illegal garage and two rooms at a site next to the proposed park,
claiming his aim was to house homeless in-laws and a "handicapped
uncle."

The application was refused twice by MEPA but an appeal is still
pending before the planning appeals board. Scicluna claims that
before he bought the site it was full of rubbish and the rubble walls
were collapsing before he rebuilt them.

jdebono@...