VALLETTA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Malta inaugurated the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center on Monday to provide improved shelter and rehabilitation facilities for injured wildlife, and a hub for environmental research and education.
With an investment of 2.5 million euros (2.73 million U.S. dollars), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the center is currently offering care to nine sea turtles and seven hedgehogs.
Located in a nature park on Malta's southeastern Delimara peninsula, the center was inaugurated by Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli, and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett. More than 20,000 native trees and shrubs were planted in the nature park, creating a thriving ecosystem.
The center was developed by Nature Trust Malta in collaboration with the state environment body Ambjent Malta. It encompasses rehabilitation facilities for diverse wildlife, including marine, terrestrial and avian fauna, offering a sanctuary for their recovery before potential reintroduction to their habitats.
Children and visitors will also be able to learn about Malta's wildlife and their conservation in the center.
"We need to maintain our commitments towards the protection of our natural heritage," Dalli said. "This Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is not just a building with specialized equipment. It is a holistic environmental experience that brings together children and adults from all walks of life towards a common objective." ■