The Virat Kohli Foundation announced on the eve of World Stray Animals’ Day on Sunday that it will be setting up two animal welfare shelters in the outskirts of Mumbai. The India cricket team captain revealed that he was moved by his wife Anushka Sharma’s willingness to help the stray animals.
Kohli’s charitable trust has collaborated with animal healthcare company Vivaldis Animal Health and a local Mumbai NGO named Awaaz to execute the project fruitfully.
“Looking after the welfare of animals is a cause very close to my heart now as Anushka is very passionate about this issue,” Virat Kohli said in a statement.
“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,” the star cricketer added.
Today, on World Stray Animals Day, we are announcing our collaboration with leading animal healthcare company #VivaldisAnimalHealth & @AwaazStray, NGO supporting stray animals, we’ve come together to build safe spaces & ensure easy medical access to the stray animals of our city. pic.twitter.com/2QdckE52Fd
— Virat Kohli Foundation (@vkfofficial) April 4, 2021
The project of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who recently became parents to daughter Vamika, will see the shelters being set up at Malad and Boisar.
The shelter in Malad will be a temporary rehabilitation centre for wounded animals, mainly dogs and cats, where they will stay and get medical assistance until they recover. The Boisar centre, meanwhile, will be a permanent haven for stray animals who are blind, paralysed and are suffering from life-long diseases.
The passion project will see VKF providing ambulances as the Vivaldis Animal Health support with all the other healthcare needs.
So far, the Virat Kohli Foundation has been mostly active in helping aspiring athletes from all over the country. However, the charitable trust is now looking to foray into the education and healthcare projects as well.
Virat Kohli will next be seen playing in the Indian T20 League 2021 starting from April 9, Friday, as he returns to lead Team Bangalore again.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Sajjad Hussain
