A paradise once known for its pristine beauty is now at the centre of a growing crisis. Comino, a tiny island off the coast of Malta, has become overwhelmed by mass tourism with up to 10,000 visitors descending on the island daily. Once hailed as one of the Mediterranean’s most breathtaking destinations, Comino is now described by conservationists being in desperate need of intervention.

Its appearance in Hollywood films such as Troy and The Count of Monte Cristo has only added to its allure, while social media platforms have helped fuel its popularity. But its wildlife is now in peril due to the sheer volume of tourists, which is proving catastrophic.

BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana, spoke to The Telegraph about the issue, calling it a total "disaster."

He said: “It’s a disaster. When you have 10,000 people on the island, there’s noise disturbance, the vegetation gets trampled, and there is all the waste that is produced, which is a very big problem.”

The growing issue of waste is not just an aesthetic concern. The discarded food and trash have led to a surge in rat populations, posing a significant threat to Comino’s delicate ecosystem.

"There’s now a rodent infestation. The rats go down the burrows of birds like shearwaters and eat the eggs. They prey on lizards as well," Sultana said.

Comino’s location along a key migration route between Africa and Europe once made it a haven for birdlife, but the unchecked growth of tourism is putting its wildlife at risk.

Despite the environmental outcry, there has been little action from authorities. A study commissioned years ago to assess the island’s visitor capacity has never been released, with some alleging a government cover-up. Meanwhile, tour operators continue to market Comino as an untouched paradise, with little effort to educate visitors about conservation.

A TripAdvisor review highlighted the stark contrast between expectation and reality.

One unhappy tourist said: "We were dropped off on Comino Island for four hours...It was completely deserted – very picturesque and beautiful, but the entire island was littered with garbage.

"We even saw rats by the garbage and later read signs about how they are destroying an endangered species of birds on the island. It was very disappointing and sad."

The Malta Environment Foundation called for urgent reforms to protect Comino.

“This project aims to reduce waste from being dispersed into the surrounding coastal natural environment on the protected island of Comino,” the organisation said.

It claimed that food stands contribute significantly to litter, including discarded pineapple skins, which create unpleasant conditions, particularly near the ecologically sensitive Blue Lagoon.

Campaigners warn that without immediate intervention, one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands could be permanently scarred by overtourism.