Olhu Hiyaa occupancy increased by 100, 75 cats taken in from the streets

The Olhu Hiyaa, created for the purpose of caring for stray cats that roam the streets of Male', has increased in quarantine occupancy by 100, along with bringing in 75 street cats to the pet care facility.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare's website stated last night that since the quarantine occupancy of the facility has been increased, work has started on bringing in stray cats to the facility. The ministry also stated that they have resumed work after it was brought to a halt due to the recent downpour of rain.

The ministry has said that the facility did not have the resources to properly quarantine cats in their quarantine bay when the shelter initially opened. They said that the facility had brought in 15 cats after opening, with multiple retrieval efforts having been conducted afterwards.

As per the ministry's statements, the work to bring in cats after the occupancy increase commenced on 28th July. Due to the recent rainy weather, the retrieval work had to be put on hold, with it resuming yesterday. Since then, 19 out of the 34 cats have been moved from quarantine into their cages. A total of 75 cats from the Male' area have been brought into the facility.

The ministry stated that a number of cats had been taken in yesterday from Male's Marrybrown area and various parts of Hulhumale'.

The shelter currently has a total of 112 cats, as per the ministry's data. This is including the cats that are in quarantine and in their cages.

The ministry went on to say that the retrieval work will continue today as well, with subsequent work being done after the cats are put from quarantine into their cages.

Male' City Council had previously decided to continue the operation of the shelter, after funding the project themselves. However, the management and operations of the shelter were to be given to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare after the decision was reached by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's cabinet. The city council was informed of this decision last December.

The ministry has told Mihaaru News that two parties have shown interest in running the shelter when the ministry had announced that they were looking for interested parties to do so.