The Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri visited the exhibition of various species of birds and stuffed animals that were part of a competition organized by the Malta Taxidermy Federation. He opened the awards evening in this third edition of the embalming competition where the public is being given the opportunity to see with their own eyes and appreciate what this art offers.
The Malta Taxidermy Federation organized this competition to offer an opportunity to enthusiasts to improve their skills because the work is judged by a professional jury with international experience. Minister Clint Camilleri said, “This also offers experience for when he participates in competitions abroad where Maltese embalmers always do well. Anyone who visits the exhibition can notice that the exhibited work is of a very good standard”. In fact, the foreign judges of the competition were very impressed with the artistic work and the high level of the Maltese embalmers, especially with that of the kite. It is said that the jury goes into great detail to choose the winners.
As in every other country in Europe, nowadays in Malta embalming is considered an art. In the hobby of embalming it is only a small percentage of the species that come from hunting. In fact, in this exhibition, the majority of the exhibitors come from captive breeding or were even kept as pets. The exhibits were all legally taken in the Maltese Islands or in their country of origin, and those that were not taken in the Maltese Islands were also legally imported.
In the case of hunted species, the meat is cooked and eaten and as evidence of this. During this competition the public had the opportunity to see with their own eyes a bird being cleaned and embalmed while its meat is being cooked. The Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri stated that the ministry has always been helpful to the Malta Taxidermy Federation and its members and committed to continue doing so. He concluded by congratulating all the participating exhibitors.
The exhibition and competition of birds and stuffed animals started on Friday, August 19, and will end today, Sunday, at 8pm in the Marija Bambina Parish center in Naxxar.
Photos: MGOZ
