The theft of a number of animals from the Park of Friendship in Marsascala last week and the killing of a deer at the same premises can only be described as a despicable, selfish and cowardly act.

The theft of the animals took place between Sunday and Monday night last week. Some 13 exotic animals went missing after thieves broke into the compound and made off with them. A deer was simply beaten to death because it would not cooperate.

The vast majority of people have been shocked by this because of the implications it has. The animals used at the park were not simply display animals, they were there for therapeutic purposes so that young disabled children can pet them, interact with them and hopefully give them a little joy in their lives.

It is not the cash value of the animals which is at stake here. The animals themselves were valued at Lm1,300. But the value they have to the children who go to the park can never be measured in such terms.

This was not an act of ignorance, we would have to say. Everyone in Malta knows that the Park of Friendship is a charitable organisation that tries its best to offer learning, respite and recreational facilities for disabled children. The thieves might not have known that the animals were used for therapeutic purposes, but they certainly did know where they were stealing them from, just as much as the previous robbers who broke in and stole around Lm4,000 in cash just a few weeks ago.

We will remind you, and hopefully this message will filter down to these people, that only weeks ago, a disabled nine-year-old boy, Oliver, swam three kilometres in the park’s pool to raise awareness and money for the place that gave him the chance to learn how to swim, the same Park of Friendship. We ask the thieves, how does that make you feel?

Luckily, WasteServ has offered to pay for the installation of CCTV cameras around the park. The park had put out an appeal for donations and it is good to see some corporate social responsibility from WasteServ. Let us hope that other companies follow suit in helping out the Park of Friendship.

Some individuals have already pledged the donation of some animals and we are sure that many others have donated sums of money. At least, once again the nation’s spirit of solidarity has emerged. Yet, we would like to see a bit more involvement from the government in this whole issue – a pledge of support, a cash donation, logistics, supplies – we are sure that something more can be done.

But this brings us back to the point in question – just where are this country’s morals heading to? As mentioned, the park was broken into some weeks ago and cash was stolen. This was bad enough, but to be targeted again by others who steal animals?

Something is seriously wrong here. But before shaking your head in anger, we should remember that sometimes we Maltese are our own worst enemy. Let us take vandalism for example – the lights around the bastions in Valletta, the vandalism at the megalithic temple sites and let us not forget Portes des Bombes. Such crimes are not crimes against individuals, they are crimes against the people.

We urge the authorities to keep fighting against such miscreants and to bring them to justice. And, once caught, those found guilty should be given a tough sentence by our courts, if only to act as a deterrent against others who might be nurturing similar ideas.