The cricketer credited his wife, “Anushka’s vision to help stray animals across India is truly inspiring.”
Popular news sites have reported that Anushka is working towards opening two animal shelters in Boiser and Malad (Mumbai). On the occasion of World Stray Animals Day, Indian captain, Virat Kohli tweeted, “To ensure health & support to stray animals, @vkfofficial has now taken its first step towards animal welfare by Virat Kohli Foundation (VKF) in collaboration with Vivaldi Animal Health.” According to Indian Express, Vivaldi Animal Health is an Indian animal healthcare company founded by Kunal Khanna, a London Business School alumnus, and with Awaaz Voice of Stray Animals — a local NGO in Mumbai to set-up two animal shelters in the maximum city.
Kohli also thanked his wife, Anushka Sharma, for inspiring him to do so. World Stray Animals Day is celebrated on 4 April. The foundation will be building safe spaces for stray animals. Also, it will ensure easy medical access to the stray animals in the city.
According to Timesnownews, “Kohli is presently in Chennai, where he is serving the 7-day isolation period before the start of IPL 2021. The 32-year-old exited the Pune bubble after the end of the India-England series. Had he joined the RCB’s bubble from the Pune bubble directly, he would have been allowed to skip the isolation period.”
The Virat Kohli Foundation (VKF) was established in 2013. According to viratkohli.foundation website, the ‘VKF x Vivaldis Animal Shelter’ at Boisar will be supported by Awaaz, who will construct a permanent animal shelter in Boisar for handicapped and paralyzed animals. The center will have an admission capacity of 25 Dogs (blind /paralyzed / handicapped) and 50 cats. A total of 20,000 sq. ft will be used for constructing the shelter.
At the ‘VKF x Vivaldis Trauma and Rehab Center’, Awaaz will set up a 3500 sq. ft temporary rehab and trauma center in Malad, Mumbai that will be used to treat and foster injured/ wounded animals (dogs & cats). The center will have in-house veterinary doctor which will assist in treatment of animals admitted in the center. It will have an admission capacity of 10 dogs and 15 cats. And all the animals brought in the center will be kept temporarily and will be released backed to their respective area after recovery.
(Image: @iamvkohli)
