The Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources has announced the hiring of a contractor to manage the cat section of the Animal Care Facility (Olhu Hiyaa) in Hulhumale' Phase II once more.

The previous Ministry of Animal Welfare initially revealed in May of last year that it was looking for collaborators to manage Olhu Hiyaa together. The announcement was subsequently revoked and re-released in July. In April of this year, after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s reshuffle of the Cabinet, the Animal Welfare Ministry was disbanded, and its duties were reassigned to the Fisheries Ministry.

The ministry is currently looking for a contractor to manage Olhu Hiyaa for one year. Interested individuals are requested to come to the ministry from 10:00 am Sunday to 11:00 am Thursday for information and to submit proposals. Further information can be acquired by reaching out to 3309239 or 3309331.

A cat inside a cage ready for transfer to 'Olhu Hiyaa': The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has invested more than MVR 500,000 in 'Olhu Hiyaa' since assuming control of the pet care center. (Photo/Ministry)

Feral cats persist in overpopulating different areas of Male', creating challenges for walkers. The Olhu Hiyaa center, constructed on 5,000 square feet of land given by HDC to the Male' City Council, was created to tackle the increasing problem posed by stray cats in the capital.

Once construction was finished, the building was taken over by the City Council. Nevertheless, conflicts in management arose quickly, leading the ministry to suspend cat transfers and assert that the council’s organization did not meet adequate standards and protocols. The ministry officially took control of the facility in late February 2025.