Malta will soon make bestiality illegal, carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine between €2,000 and €6,000 for the act.

More than a year after headlines broke of a man having sexual relations with sheep and pressure made by opposition MP Mario Galea and multiple animal rights NGO’s such as Animal Welfare Commissioner Alison Bezzina, Justice Minister Edward Zammit Lewis announced the amendments in Parliament on Tuesday.

Currently bestiality is not illegal unless the animal is harmed. If the animal is harmed the case falls under an animal cruelty act and not bestiality. The amendments do not specifically mention bestiality but prohibit anyone to subject any animal to do something which is out of their nature, which includes bestiality.