HDC “relocating” strays from Hulhumalé, ministry unaware

The issue of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) or Urbanco “removing” cats from Hulhumalé Phase II without notifying the relevant authorities, has come into the spotlight.

RaajjeMV understands that Urbanco has confessed to removing cats from the Hiyaa towers located in Phase II of the capital’s suburban extension, without notifying the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

Local NGO Welfare for Island Cats (WIC) revealed that they were informed by the ministry, after confirming with HDC, that the cats were relocated to another residential area in Phase II, after they were removed from the Hiyaa towers.

However, the NGO notes that the exact location the strays were taken to, remains unclear.

Highlighting that some older cats were able to find their way back, WIC stressed that kittens as young as two weeks old were separated from their mothers and there have been no reports of them being found, which is especially concerning as they would not survive without the mother cat.

WIC cited HDC having revealed that the “removal” was prompted by a complaint they received about food being left near the elevator of the towers.

However, Hiyaa residents are to have denied this claim.

In a statement released regarding the issue, WIC asserted that several eyewitnesses have confirmed that individuals clad in uniforms were involved in the removal of cats and kittens.

The statement goes on to read that it is especially worrying since this comes after a post on social media platform ‘X’, now deleted, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare regarding a meeting between Ministers of State for Agriculture and Animal Welfare Ahmed Hassan Didi and Mariyam Vishama Ahmed, and officials of HDC who are to have discussed collaborative efforts to “reduce” the stray cat population in Hulhumalé.

WIC stresses that the choice of word “reduce” is concerning, particularly from a ministry that should be promoting and advocating for animal welfare.

It has also been confirmed that cats have been disappearing "without a trace" in capital Malé City and outlying islands alike.

Condemning the act as animal cruelty, the NGO has sought from relevant authorities to alert animal welfare NGOs to aid efforts to locate the missing cats, in a bid to ensure they are safe.

The organization has also called to enhance the animal welfare laws and regulations of the island nation, to improve the process of monitoring such practices.

Cat lovers across the entire nation have come together on social media platforms to voice their concern regarding the matter as well, calling for urgent action to find the whereabouts of the missing strays.