Local photographer, ‘Dwardu Photography’ has spotted and beautifully captured an animal which is rarely ever seen in Malta.

This is the least weasel, otherwise known as Ballottra in Maltese!

The animal is notoriously shy! It is small in size and very flexible which means it can easily hide away in cracks and corners. Its senses are very heightened so it can spot you and hide way before you can even get anywhere near it.

According to Birdlife Malta, the least weasel typically hunts on rats, rabbits, snakes and lizards. It has a similar size to that of a cat and poses no threat to humans.

It is also the only carnivorous mammal found in all of Malta.

Before Malta switched to the euro currency in 2008, the weasel could even be spotted on the Maltese Lira one cent coin!

Have you ever had the lucky opportunity of spotting one?

Facebook/Dwardu Photography