112 Cats Taken into Quarantine at Olhu Hiya Facility

News

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has announced that a total of 112 stray cats have been taken into the Olhu Hiya Facility as part of the Government’s ongoing initiative to manage the growing stray cat population in the capital city.

Most of the rescued cats are currently in quarantine, following recent upgrades to the Olhu Hiya Facility, which now includes the capacity to quarantine up to 100 cats at a time. This enhancement marks a major step forward in the humane management of the stray cat population in Malé.

Originally opened without proper quarantine infrastructure, the facility has seen significant improvements in recent months. With these upgrades completed, the Government has resumed full-scale efforts to relocate stray cats from urban streets to the facility.

In July alone, 28 stray cats were transferred to Olhu Hiya. However, the relocation process faced temporary setbacks due to adverse weather conditions. Despite this, the operation has now resumed, and an additional 75 cats have since been taken into the shelter — bringing the total to 112.

The Ministry emphasized that relocation efforts will continue in the coming weeks, with plans underway to increase the shelter’s capacity and improve conditions to house more animals safely and humanely.

This initiative forms part of a broader strategy by the Government to ensure public health and animal welfare, while also addressing concerns from residents about the increasing number of stray animals in Malé. Authorities urge the public to cooperate and support efforts to manage the stray animal population responsibly.