Agriculture Minister T. Siddique laid the foundation stone for an animal shelter in Wayanad on Saturday, October 17, 2026. This project at Cheerakathu will protect domestic animals during natural calamities. The facility got ₹1 crore in funding and will provide fodder and veterinary care to many animals for local farmers.
The country’s first animal shelter dedicated to the safe evacuation and rehabilitation of domestic animals during natural calamities is coming up at Cheerakathu in Kottathara grama panchayat in Wayanad district.
Agriculture Minister T. Siddique laid the foundation stone for the shelter on Saturday (October 17, 2026). Speaking at the ceremony, he described it as a model project aimed at protecting cattle and other domestic animals during natural disasters.
The facility will enable authorities to evacuate animals in advance when disaster warnings are issued and provide them with fodder, water, and basic veterinary care, he said.
Relief to farmers
The shelter will be able to accommodate 100 to 150 domestic animals at a time. It is expected to provide relief to farmers who face the distress of having to leave their cattle and pets behind when evacuating their homes during disasters, the Minister said.
The State Disaster Management Authority and Humane World for Animals India have allocated funds for the project, which will be built at a cost of ₹1 crore.