Malta’s Taxidermy Trove: A Feathery Surprise
Stuffed with Surprises: Police Uncover Malta’s Taxidermy Trove
In the quiet, winding streets of Birkirkara, where laundry lines crisscross the sky and neighbours greet each other with a cheerful ‘Bonġu’, an unusual discovery has left locals and authorities alike with their jaws agape. Hidden behind the unassuming door of a terraced house, police have stumbled upon what they’re calling ‘the largest collection of taxidermied birds ever found in Malta’.
Feathers and Freezing: The Discovery
It was a routine check that turned out anything but. Police, acting on a tip-off, raided a residence on Triq San Gorg Preca, Birkirkara, last Tuesday. What they found was a veritable aviary of the frozen kind – hundreds of birds, from tiny warblers to majestic eagles, immortalised in glass cases and on wooden stands. The room was a taxidermist’s dream, or perhaps nightmare, given the scale and the apparent lack of permits.
Superintendent Joseph Muscat, leading the investigation, described the scene: “It was like walking into a silent, frozen forest. Birds of all shapes and sizes, staring at you with those glassy eyes. It was eerie, but also fascinating.”
Legal Eagles and Feathers: The Law Catches Up
The discovery has raised eyebrows and questions. Taxidermy is not illegal in Malta, but it’s heavily regulated. You need a permit to possess, sell, or display taxidermied specimens, and certain species are protected. The owner of this particular aviary, a local man in his sixties who wished to remain anonymous, admitted to police that he had no such permits.
“I’ve been collecting these birds for decades,” he told Hot Malta in an exclusive interview. “I never meant any harm. I just loved birds, their beauty, their freedom. I wanted to preserve that.”
Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) officials are now involved, investigating potential violations of the Wildlife and Habitats Regulations. They’re also trying to identify the species and their origins. Some birds appear to be local, while others are from further afield.
Feathers in the Wind: What’s Next?
The future of Malta’s newest, and perhaps most unusual, attraction is uncertain. The birds have been seized and are now in the custody of the ERA. They may end up in a museum, or perhaps even returned to nature in a symbolic release.
For now, though, the house on Triq San Gorg Preca stands empty, its windows staring blankly like the birds that once filled its rooms. A reminder of the unexpected, the extraordinary, that can hide behind the most ordinary of doors.
As for the collector, he’s philosophical. “I did it for the love of birds,” he says. “If I’ve broken the law, I’m sorry. But I’d do it again. After all, as they say, ‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.”
