This island is a real little gem of the Mediterranean, and is threatened today. Rats and waste fall into this paradise victim within its success on social networks.
It is an idyllic island, bathed by turquoise waters that make more than one surfer dream. Welcome to a small 3.5 km2 paradise located in the heart of the Mediterranean. There have no cars here, only a single hotel opened part of the year. The landscapes vary between steep cliffs, mysterious caves and small dream stories, making the pleasure of divers and hikers.
The jewel of the island? The emblematic blue lagoon and its translucent waters that can’t envy the Maldives. But today, this little paradise is plagued by an alarming situation, and warns the premises and specialists in biodiversity.
The island has been valued for its breathtaking panoramas, and the popularity has exploded over the past few years, especially thanks to Instagram. The pictures of his little inlets and his turquoise waters went through the whole world and always put on more visitors in the summer. This island that has become trendy is Comino located between Malta and Gozo.
But this success has a price! During the high season, up to 10,000 tourists end up on this island every day, but classified as a natural and sanctuary for birds. These hordes of holidaymakers arrived throughout the boats and entered the beaches and fled around the blue lagoon as in a giant pool.
To accommodate everyone, pressed temporary bars and kiosks everywhere and served cocktails in hollowed out pineapples and then threw it to the ground. The latter attracts rodents. “This is an untenable situation”, regretted Andre Callus, of the Movement Graffitti Organization, which is fighting against this intense exploitation of the island, interviewed by English daily life The Daily Telegraph.
The damage is significant according to associations. The vegetation was trampled, the noise disrupted fauna and most importantly the waste was piled up and offered a festival with scattered rats. “The island is now experiencing a rodent infection that attacks eggs in seabirds and lizards,” warns Mark Sultana, director of Birdlife Malta.
For many, there is an emergency. Comino, formerly a preserved Haven of Peace, has a victimized area infected with rats and scattered with trash “, is upset about the telegraph. Faced with this alarming observation, the Maltese government promises to act. The Minister of Tourism provokes half a reduction in the number of daily visitors, a limitation of bars and the installation of public toilets. But for environmental defenders, these measures are insufficient. They demand the ban on major tourist boats, a strict visitors and the daily evacuation of waste. Comino’s paradise would be at this price …