The Animal Welfare Ministry has urged the public not to abuse or harm street cats, following reports of mistreatment and killings in Malé City.
In a statement, the ministry condemned such acts, noting they violate both national laws and internationally accepted animal welfare standards.
The ministry outlined the five internationally recognized freedoms that define animal well-being:
1. Freedom from hunger, thirst, and starvation
2. Freedom from fear, anxiety, and distress
3. Freedom from physical discomfort
4. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
5. Freedom to express normal behavior
The ministry cited the World Organization for Animal Health’s (WOAH) Animal Health Code — to which the Maldives is a party — stressing the importance of ensuring animal welfare in all circumstances, whether for agriculture, research, recreation, or domestic care.
It further stated that the planet is a shared home for both humans and animals, and that all creatures deserve to live in a safe and humane environment.
The ministry also announced that Phase 2 of the Uppsala shelter expansion project is underway to provide a secure space for stray cats in the capital.
In a statement, the ministry condemned such acts, noting they violate both national laws and internationally accepted animal welfare standards.
The ministry outlined the five internationally recognized freedoms that define animal well-being:
1. Freedom from hunger, thirst, and starvation
2. Freedom from fear, anxiety, and distress
3. Freedom from physical discomfort
4. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease
5. Freedom to express normal behavior
The ministry cited the World Organization for Animal Health’s (WOAH) Animal Health Code — to which the Maldives is a party — stressing the importance of ensuring animal welfare in all circumstances, whether for agriculture, research, recreation, or domestic care.
It further stated that the planet is a shared home for both humans and animals, and that all creatures deserve to live in a safe and humane environment.
The ministry also announced that Phase 2 of the Uppsala shelter expansion project is underway to provide a secure space for stray cats in the capital.
