Meet Malta’s Weird and Wonderful Native Animals

Malta is a brilliant holiday destination thanks to its fabulous climate, beautiful natural surroundings and rich culture. It is also a wonderful place to visit if you are an animal lover as you will find a whole host of weird and wonderful animals native to this small island. Here are a few to keep look out for during your stay.

Pharaoh Hound

This striking dog (which is the national dog of the island) was originally used by pharaohs as a hunting dog and is often seen in Egyptian art. The breed was introduced from Egypt by the Phoenicians (just one intriguing chapter in Malta’s history), and it has changed very little over 5,000-odd years with its distinctive short hair and large ears.

Maltese Honey Bee

The most endangered honeybee species and one of just 10 species in Europe, the Maltese honeybee has had to evolve over the years to cope with the hot Maltese climate and unique environment. They are carefully protected by local beekeepers with 2,000 beehives found across Malta and Gozo.

Sicilian Shrew

This cute creature is endemic to the island and Sicily but sadly thought to be in a drastic decrease in numbers in Gozo. They can be found anywhere from sea level to an altitude of 1,000 metres in shrub land, so be sure to keep a lookout for one during your stay!

Maltese Goat

Sadly, there are only around 350 of these beautiful creatures left on the island after the population dropped massively during WWII. Notable for being black and white with long hair and large droopy ears, the Maltese Goat was introduced to the island from the Middle East thousands of years ago.

Maltese Wall Lizard

You are sure to see plenty of these colourful lizards on a holiday here (or anywhere in the Pelagian Islands) as they come out in numbers during the hotter months and can be seen soaking up the sun, feeding on fruit and running in and out of rocks. Do not be alarmed by them, even if they scurry across your feet as they are harmless and can be great fun to watch.

Maltese Ruby Tiger Moth

Indigenous to the island, these unique moths have a brown furry head and body with a red underside which has inspired many to refer to them as a miniature flying bear! Do not let this scare you though, as the ruby tiger moth is a beautiful creature with a wingspan of just 3.5 centimetres.

How to Get There

Another key selling point for this destination is the fact that it is very easy to reach. A handful of carriers offer regular flights from the UK to Malta International Airport (MLA). Flying time is just 3 hours, and the best way to reach your final destination after you land is a seat on a pre-booked Malta airport transfer. Queuing for a cab or attempting to use public transport can be difficult, but a pre-booked Malta airport transfer will mean that you can jump straight in the back of the vehicle outside the Arrivals terminal.

This charming island is a superb holiday destination, especially for animal lovers. It is also an easy trip to make but always arrange a pre-booked Malta airport transfer to get your trip off to a smooth start.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an af-fordable pre-booked Malta airport transfer  Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.