From Every Village to the Verge of Extinction: The Maltese Goat’s Plight

In the heart of Rabat, just off Republic Street, there’s a small, unassuming shop. It’s called ‘Il-Bżża’, Maltese for ‘The Goat’. Once, it was a common sight, but now, it’s a rarity. The Maltese goat, our island’s once ubiquitous mascot, is disappearing.

From Every Village to the Verge of Extinction

Growing up in Malta, you couldn’t miss the goats. They were everywhere – roaming the countryside, grazing in fields, even wandering into towns. They were as much a part of the scene as the Azure Window… well, until it collapsed. But while the Azure Window’s loss was sudden and dramatic, the Maltese goat’s decline has been a slow, creeping disappearance.

Today, the Maltese goat is critically endangered. According to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), there are fewer than 200 left in the wild. That’s a far cry from the thousands that once roamed our islands. So, what happened?

From Dinner Table to Endangered Species

The Maltese goat’s decline can be traced back to the 1960s. That’s when Malta’s agricultural sector started to shift. Farming became less profitable, and many farmers switched to more lucrative crops or gave up farming altogether. The goats, once a staple on Maltese dinner tables, fell out of favor. With fewer farmers to care for them, their numbers began to dwindle.

But it’s not just farming practices that have driven the Maltese goat to the brink. Urbanization has played a significant role too. As Malta’s population has grown and urban areas have expanded, the goats’ natural habitats have been lost to development. Now, they’re confined to just a few areas – the Dingli Cliffs, the Mgarr hills, and a small pocket in the limits of Zebbug and Rabat.

Hope on the Horizon?

All is not lost, however. There are signs of hope. In 2018, the government launched a €1.5 million project to save the Maltese goat. The project, led by MEPA, aims to increase the goat population, improve their habitats, and raise awareness about their plight.

But saving the Maltese goat won’t be easy. It will require a concerted effort from everyone – the government, local councils, farmers, and the public. We need to protect their habitats, support farmers who care for them, and change our attitudes towards these remarkable animals.

Because the Maltese goat is more than just a critically endangered species. It’s a symbol of our island’s rural heritage. It’s a link to our past, a reminder of the fields and farms that once dominated our scene. And it’s a testament to the power of nature – and the danger we pose when we forget our responsibility to protect it.

So, let’s not let the Maltese goat disappear without a fight. Let’s stand up for these remarkable animals, and in doing so, stand up for the Malta of old – the Malta of fields and farms, of village life and rural charm.

Because if we don’t, there might come a time when the Maltese goat is just a memory, a story told by our grandparents about a time when they were everywhere. And that’s a future we can’t afford to let happen.