Olhu Hiyaa operation tender reissued as Fisheries Ministry seeks one-year contractor

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

The former Ministry of Animal Welfare first announced in May last year that it was seeking partners to jointly run Olhu Hiyaa. That announcement was later cancelled and re-issued in July. In April this year, following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Cabinet reshuffle, the Animal Welfare Ministry was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to the Fisheries Ministry.

The ministry is now seeking a contractor to operate Olhu Hiyaa for one year. Interested parties have been asked to visit the ministry between 10:00 am Sunday and 11:00 am Thursday for information and proposal submission. Additional details can be obtained by contacting 3309239 or 3309331.

Stray cats continue to infest various parts of Male', causing difficulties for pedestrians. The Olhu Hiyaa facility, built on 5,000 square feet of land allocated by HDC to the Male' City Council, was established to address the growing nuisance caused by stray cats in the capital.

After construction was completed, the City Council initially took over the building. However, management disputes soon emerged, with the ministry halting cat transfers and claiming the council’s setup lacked proper standards and protocols. Control of the facility was formally handed over to the ministry in late February 2025.

Olhu Hiyaa was designed to house up to 1,000 cats, with a clinic, quarantine zone, laboratory, pharmacy and recreation area. Despite this, the ministry currently houses only around 30 cats, and the facility previously suffered an outbreak that resulted in the deaths of 26 cats.

The ministry continues to tender renovation and improvement work as part of efforts to fully operationalize the shelter.