Virat Kohli Sets Up Two Animal Shelters In Mumbai, Credits Anushka Sharma For Inspiration

5 April 2021

The captain of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli's Foundation has established two animal shelters in Malad and Boisar, Mumbai. These are a part of the foundation's animal welfare campaign to provide easy medical support to stray animals.

The animal shelters are a collaborative project with Vivaldis Animal Health and the NGO Awaaz - Voice of Stray Animals.

The cricketer announced this news on Instagram, crediting the inspiration for this initiative to his wife Anushka Sharma:

Image Courtesy: Virat Kohli Foundation

The shelter situated in Malad is a rehabilitation and trauma centre for injured small animals like dogs and cats. With the provision of an in-house vet and two operational ambulances, animals will be treated and fostered here. It has the capacity of 10 dogs and 15 cats.

The shelter in Boisar is a permanent animal shelter for handicapped and paralysed animals. It has the capacity of 25 dogs and 50 cats.

Kohli shared in a statement: “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.”

Though not vegan themselves, both Kohli and Anushka Sharma have been advocating for animal rights in the past few years. Kohli followed a plant-based diet to recover from an injury in 2019. Sharma, on the other hand, has been vocal about stricter animal cruelty laws. She has also expressed her desire to set up an animal shelter, an idea which may be realized next year.