Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, are known to be strong advocates of animal rights. Anushka had also expressed her desire to open an animal shelter in the outskirts of Mumbai and was reportedly working towards that. Now, taking a cue from his wife’s desire, Virat has announced that he has set up two animal shelters at Malad and Boisar in Mumbai.
The cricketer wrote on his social media page, “To ensure health and support services to stray animals, @vkfofficial has now taken its first step towards animal welfare.”
“Today, on World Stray Animals Day, we are announcing our collaboration with leading animal healthcare company Vivaldis, and Awaaz, NGO supporting stray animals, we’ve come together to build safe spaces and ensure easy medical access to the stray animals of our city.”
In his post, he also thanked his wife Anushka for inspiring him by her passion towards animals and for being a constant advocate for animal rights. “I look forward to this opportunity to help the strays of our city,” he added.
The Malad shelter will work as a temporary rehabilitation centre where animals will be treated for injuries and sickness, and will be discharged when they have recovered. The Boisar center will be a permanent home for animals who are blind, paralysed, suffering from life-long diseases or old age.
In an Indian Express report Virat, who is also a vegan, said, “Looking after the welfare of animals is a cause very close to my heart now as Anushka is very passionate about this issue. Her vision to help stray animals across India is truly inspiring for me and since I have met her, I have tried to understand more about animal rights and the urgent need for medical assistance for strays. It is our dream to create a safer space for the stray animals of our city and I’m happy to be taking on this project with Vivaldis and Awaaz, and working with likeminded people to create some facilities to help these animals.”
