Mass sterilisation campaign kicks off on Monday |15 February 2025
The Agriculture department and the Seychelles Animal Welfare Institute (SAWI), under the leadership of its founder and chief executive, Dr Svetlana Broussova, are set to organise a large-scale mass sterilisation from February 17 to 27, 2025.
This initiative is part of the ongoing twinning agreement between Victoria, Seychelles, and Rostov-on-Don, Russia, and will be conducted in collaboration with the Agriculture department (AD).
A team of seven veterinarians from Russia will join forces with the Agriculture department’s Animal Welfare team to provide vital sterilisation services for animals across the islands.
The campaign aims to address the growing challenges of animal overpopulation, improve animal welfare, and mitigate the public health risks associated with stray animals.
In addition to performing sterilisations, the visiting veterinary experts will conduct a series of specialised training sessions for the Seychelles veterinary team. These sessions will focus on enhancing local veterinarians’ knowledge and skills in various critical areas, including advanced techniques in animal health management, best practices for handling and treating animals, and improving animal welfare through innovative approaches.
Dr Broussova emphasised the importance of the collaboration by stating, “This initiative goes beyond addressing the immediate issue of animal overpopulation. It is also about building the capacity of our local veterinary team to ensure sustainable progress in animal welfare in Seychelles.”
The mass sterilisation campaign is expected to make a significant impact by:
- Reducing the number of stray animals on the streets;
- Improving the overall health and well-being of animals;
- Enhancing community awareness of responsible pet ownership.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by bringing their pets for sterilisation. The specific locations and schedules for the campaign are found on the accompanying poster.
This initiative highlights the strong partnership between Seychelles and Russia, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange that benefits both countries. By combining expertise and resources, the campaign underscores the importance of international cooperation in tackling global challenges like animal welfare and public health.
Contributed