An alternative draft of this article was first published on the Oevaru blog. Republished with permission.
A life of a pet owl, which seems to cast a spell on you with its fathomless deep blue eyes, is to be spared according to a recent update on MDP Haruge, which may bring some joy to a nation torn over an inability to distinguish between ‘dangerous’ and ‘exotic’ animals.
Some reports suggest the owl has been spared while other pet owner mourn their lost friends. One harmless iguana’s eulogy was given by its owner, Miusam Mushthaag: “Miss u igu” simply said all.
Matters have been made worse by conflicting official statements, with some government agencies reported that “all” the “illegal” and “dangerous” animals seized from the recent drug busts have been “destroyed”. This has not stopped heartbroken Maldivians going into a state of denial, refusing to accept that these animals have been killed.
The owner of the owl is reported to be pursuing legal action against the authorities – claiming that the owl confiscated from him during the special police operation was not ‘smuggled’ into the country but was, rather, a migratory foreign bird he had caught in an uninhabited island.
The owner’s conviction that his animal remains alive has given hope that the authorities, through bureaucratic slowness perhaps, have somehow not yet murdered at least some of these animals.
Specifically the owl was lucky not to have been mentioned in a list of outlawed and endangered animals that could be imported into the country without written permission from the authorities. It was also lucky not to be mentioned in the list of migratory animals that are prohibited from being caught and kept as pets.
“The #Maldives authorities involved have shown that [the] dangerous aren’t the animals, but themselves,” writes Muna Aminath on the Facebook group ‘Colorless’.
The Pet Association of Maldives posted a letter signed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) director-general Ibrahim Naeem which claimed that owls are not specified as being allowed in Maldives, either as endangered or migratory bird. This itself is rather silly because you cannot expect the Maldives’ law to specifically name all the estimated 8.7 million species of living things in the world.
The unfortunate incidents of the past week beg the question: why has a certain resort – allegedly – been able to import Kangaroos which are also not specifically mentioned as an ‘allowed bird’? Why the discrimination in policy implementation?
Also, as Minivan News documented out, it raises the question as to why various ministries, rather than passing blame around, have not specifically agreed among themselves on how best to cooperate under such circumstances. They could do this first by asking themselves the question: who should define ‘exotic’ and ‘dangerous’, and who should regulate the import into the country of animals and pets based on these two characteristics?
Indeed, it’s a strange subject, and – other than the rumours that the owl when straight to a leading politician’s residence – it is hard to see what the benefit of the whole operation was. The animals let loose in the country were isolated incidents. Meanwhile, some lowly citizens lost their owl, while pictures circulate of a baby cheetah in Hulhumalé, reportedly owned by one of the country’s most prominent families. Will this be investigated?
In fairness to the Maldives National Defense Force, it seems like the authorities decided to collect these animals without the faintest idea as to what they would do with them. They would have been better left where they were – doing no real harm.
The reality is that the Maldives is only now slowly waking up to the concept of cruelty against animals and that all living things have basic rights as well as us humans. The long after-effects of the murder of Evan Naseem are now resonating, with Maldivians extending their courtesy not only to their fellow species but to other sentient beings also. Yes, Maldivians will no longer tolerate torture or violence against humans or any other living thing.
First there was Meemu Zaviyani with his EcoCare and Ali Rilwan with Bluepeace who began to make Maldivians aware of their place in the balance of the environment. But it should not be a surprise, in a country where there are no trained vets for pets and animal care, that others did not follow a stronger approach to animal cruelty.
No NGOs were set up before the somewhat recent Pets Association of Maldives – set up in 2010 – and in a society which has embraced both Buddhist and Islamic views on environmental balance, it is surprising that only a few vocal groups, like Maldivian Cataholics, advocate for the rights of all living things – in addition to their beloved cats.
Perhaps the climax of this confusion of mistrust will see the ministries reach agreement among themselves, and will allow Maldivians to enjoy animals that are not endangered and are not ‘dangerous’ to the Maldives’ environment and its human inhabitants.
All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy of Minivan News. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected].
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Please do not make this an MDP vs world issue. Vehemently hate MDP, but the slaughter of those innocent creatures is completely unacceptable and frankly disgusting.
There are plenty of other who would agree who are not a part of MDP, and we as people should oppose this and not under banners of political parties, because there is plenty of people who would agree on the issue, but keep away from lending support because of the MDP name
I don't know of this is an "MDP issue" or not, but definitely political to the bone. The confiscation of pets, and their put down, is only explainable in the wider of context of "downsizing" democracy. How else are you going to explain this?
Where was MDP when animals such as cats were being cruelly hurt and killed across the country by people ? It seems MDP has nothing better happening in society that fits into their left wing propaganda other than this. So let MDP propose bill that criminalizes cruelty against animals in the maldives and a procedure that will dictate euthanization that fits viable and moral standards. Just don't make a drama out of this just for the sake of banging your drums.
Whoa, calm down, fellas! The author merely mentioned an update on an MDP facebook group. That's called giving credit to the source, a courtesy that may be alien to all of you posters above. There wasn't one mention of MDP in the article.
Vehemently hate people like Damn and BitterTruth, too. Their kind are why we have been strapped with a debt to last tens, perhaps hundreds of years for an action we never sanctioned.
I'm sure BitterTruth has kicked a few stray cats in his time. That's the sort of filth that tries to hide the fact that the genocide on pets was led by the occupational regime, and not the MDP.
This isn't about politics - this is about day-to-day existence. Maybe someday, there'll be justice, and people like them who destroy entire nations out of arrogance will be the ones destroyed.
Sure, they're paid to come here and write shit about us, but you know what happened to Gaddafi's mercenaries, eh?
There has already been a long article on Haveeru News on the Islamic point of view oh having pets. Snakes fall into Laadheenee (anti religious /secular) catagory. So there is already a connotation that the pet loving linked to MDP mindset
On Pets and Islamic morals
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/dhivehi/religion/153125?o=hm_cb_1&l=cb_m
The Maldives need urgently a well organized veterinary service.
@ali ahmed
What makes you think I am a part of PPM or JP or whoever, havent voted in any of the presidential elections.
And dont blame me or people of independent thought for debt and what not.
MDP is as corrupt as the rest of them, but you have proper foreign mouthpieces to justify everything you do.
And the issue here is animal cruelty and that is something most people can agree on and not party (sic) politics.
In response to the author, IUCN Red List and CITES conventions which Maldives is party to has well established and regularly updated guidelines on which species can be traded, kept in captivity and so on. What is needed are local laws and regulations alongside these to decide what should be done with these confiscated ‘pets’. It is true, that this is not the country’s biggest problem at the moment, nonetheless it is an issue that needs to be tackled. I totally agree with the fact that this is a very politicised problem if people can decide who can keep what and where, and how some 'more illegal' pets are for some reason be more legal in the hands of certain people- all depending on political affiliation.
However for me personally, more worrying is the whole public mentality towards the ownership of certain animals and nature as a whole- which you touched on briefly in your article. I had a look at the Pet Association Facebook Group that the author linked to, supposedly the guardians of animal rights in the Maldives. But I was shocked by some of the posts and comments. For example, there was one post with nearly 40 likes, which talked about a golden eagle being the ultimate pet. I sure hope there is some sarcasm somewhere in there, otherwise there is something really wrong with people’s mentality if they think the best thing for these undomesticated species would be to spend their whole lives in captivity.
Many people are seeing how wrong it is to destroy a confiscated animal, especially an endangered species such as the slow loris, but sadly fewer people see the wrong in keeping such an animal as a pet in the first place. The footage of the owl with its owner, though posted with the intent of showing how harmless it was, was quite depressing too. A bird of such grace and beauty should not be confined to an apartment building with a leash attached to its talons. Especially, a nocturnal species being kept awake by urban and domestic noise through the day is very insensitive. There is a reason why its ‘fathomless blue eyes’ were seen as such in broad daylight. These species adapted to low light, have pupils that diverge but doesn’t constrict enough and can ultimately lead to blindness through too much light exposure that they are not accustomed to.
There are several species that have been domesticated for centuries, if not millennia, and actually find comfort in human presence, or do not mind urban environments. But others, although it might seem ‘very cool’ to own one, were just not cut for it. Hope the public will become more educated about these issues and steer away from the illegal pet trade which puts several of the most critically endangered species at risk and practice more ethical and responsible animal ownership.
@Damn
Exactly my point. Stop calling me an MDP person when I'm not. See? You don't like it when your own poisons are used against yourselves. I'm not calling you part of PPM or JP - I'm calling you part of the problem that allows the colonialist regime to hang on to power.
And no, the issue here is that animal cruelty is being justified by 'transferring blame'. We all know how the murders in prison during the maumoon regime took place. The prison authorities said one thing, the medical staff said something else.
The key issue here is that we all believe that this regime is one of oppression, cruelty and suffering. And since you haven't voted, you have no right to speak on behalf of anyone but yourself. So, stop speaking as a mouthpiece of the State, and you won't be blamed for the debts we have been yoked with.
@Ali Ahmed
No mouth piece of the state or anyone. But you are a mouth piece of a corrupt, deceitful, group of people who have no integrity at all and will bend over backwards for any tiny request of the west.
Agree on the tyranny and oppression of the current regime and the 30 year one, but MDP is no better alternative,
Both are toxic, but one kills you outright, the other kills you over time
@Damn......bla bla bla It's always the fault of the "West".
F*cking idiot. I bet you've never been to an European country or the US have you. You'd change your tune if you had.
@yo i studied in one twit
Poor creature. Have they put down that giant crocodile in the children's park yet? Kinboo has been in solitary confinement for years, in a cage that is far too small for it.
@damn, Ali
You both clearly are educated. The country needs you to be on the same page to drag it out of the s**t hole we have fallen into.
Or else, the future of the country will not be worthy of discussions.
@Andrew Andreas
I don't know. If I speak in public about this, I'm sure people like "Damn" will be sure to give me the Afrasheem treatment.
I haven't studied in a western country, I suppose. Never did get the chance to pursue higher education after I had to drop out of school in grade 10. Some drugged-up star force thug threw a CS-tear gas grenade inside our home in 2004 and I was forced to quit school to take care of my family, and work to earn money for their treatments.
I'll clarify, since he doesn't seem to be getting the point. People like him, who think anyone who speaks against their masters is 'an agent of the west', are one of the little things keeping the corrupt regime in power. That's why I called him a mouthpiece/tool of the regime.
He may think he's 'independent', but in the end, the best kind of slave is one that thinks they're free. Just look at America.
How many people are getting killed daily in this world ? why people people are more concerned about animal than human ?
Thousands of innocent Muslims are killed in Myanmar and yet UN human rights are not even bothered and nothing against those Buddhists extremists are taken.
We don not need to give a s**t about few animal and we need to do what is best for this country.
HRCM in Maldives is criminal right commission and they only become active ot they only advocate the rights of criminals. Even criminals like murderers drug loads , etc and people who commits minor crimes are not bothered.
The Holy Quran describes animals, and all living things, as muslim - in the sense that they live in the way that Allah created them to live, and obey Allah's laws in the natural world. Although animals do not have free will, they follow their natural, God-given instincts - and in that sense they "submit to God's will," which is Islam.
“Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allah knows well all that they do.” (Quran 24:41)
Hey Hero, if you don't give a "s**t" about the sufferings of one group of muslims, then who are you to talk about another group of muslims? Please, go home back to your cesspits in tora bora.