Mass sterilisation campaign on Mahé and Praslin set for next week   |05 January 2024

An intensive sterilisation campaign on Mahé and Praslin to address the issue of stray cats and dogs will get under way on January 11, 2024, with the involvement of 10 experienced veterinarians from Russia.

The initiative is conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in collaboration with local non-governmental group, BE KIND Advocate for the Animals.

Russian veterinarian, Dr Svetlana Broussova, who will be spearheading the campaign, said this collaborative effort is to reduce the population of stray dogs and cats in Seychelles through humane and responsible means.

“The mass sterilisation programme is a crucial step toward managing the overpopulation of these animals, thereby improving their overall welfare and addressing concerns related to public health and safety,” she said.

Seychelles’ Chief Animal Health and Livestock officer, Rodney Philo, said the launch of this campaign will also contribute towards ‘Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership’ drive by educating pet owners. It is in the interest of animal welfare to reduce the number of homeless and abandoned dogs and can also minimise increased incidents such as of dog-related issues and strain on local resources, he said.

He added that “sterilisation is a humane, effective, and ethical method for managing and reducing the population of stray dogs, promoting the well-being of both animals and the communities they inhabit”.

The mass sterilisation will take place on January 11 and 12 in Grand Anse Mahé for pet owners from Montagne Posée, Au Cap, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare and Takamaka. On January 13 and 14 it will move to Grand Anse Praslin for pet owners on the island. January 16 and 17 are reserved for people residing in La Misère, Barbarons, Port Glaud and Sans Soucis and it will take place in Grand Anse Mahé. January 18 will be reserved for Cascade, Pointe Larue, Plaisance, Anse Aux Pins, Les Mamelles and Roche Caiman and it will take place in Roche Caiman. The campaign will take place at the ICCS on January 19 and 20 for pet owners from Mont Fleuri, St Louis, Mont Buxton, Quincy Village, Bel Air and Ma Constance. The northern region covering Glacis, Anse Etoile, Beau Vallon, Le Niole and Bel Ombre will be on January 22 in Beau Vallon.

The Agriculture department is expecting the sterilisation of a hundred dogs this year but said this will depend on the scale of the campaign, community participation and the consistency of such efforts overtime.

Meanwhile Mr Philo on behalf of the department has extended their heartfelt gratitude to Dr Svetlana and the participating veterinarians “for their dedication and commitment to this cause”.

They have also welcomed the support and cooperation of the local community.

“We encourage residents to assist in creating a safe and supportive environment for the veterinary team as they work tirelessly to carry out these essential procedures,” urged Mr Philo.

The sterilisation campaign ends on January 23.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of a past sterilization campaign.

Kassey Govinden