A lucky nature lover was met with an unusual sight yesterday – a rare sighting of the shy ballotra, or Maltese weasel – and was quick enough to capture the adorable creature on camera.

In photos posted by Nicholai Xuereb on the local facebook group Maltese Entomology and Wildlife, the weasel (Mustela nivalis) is seen peeping out from behind a rocky outcrop, and while Nicholai won’t reveal exactly where this rare endemic species was spotted (quite rightly), he does mention that it was close to noon – indeed, while the animal is chiefly nocturnal, it’s also known to be active during the day.

Believed to be the only natural inhabitant of the Islands, the ballotra can grow to about 20cm in length, and due to its elusive nature, is rarely spotted. Still, you might be familiar with this cutie thanks to our old one cent coin – on which it once enjoyed pride of place!

Inhabiting open country and favouring piles of stone and rubble, the weasel (probably rather wisely) tends to give us humans a wide berth, which makes these cute shots all the sweeter for nature lovers to savour.

Have you ever been lucky enough to spot one?