Wayanad, KERALAM—In a landmark step toward inclusive disaster preparedness and risk reduction in India, government agencies joined with Humane World for Animals India (formerly known as Humane Society International India) at the foundation stone ceremony for the country’s first permanent emergency evacuation shelter for animals, in Wayanad, Keralam.
The plaque (phalakam) was unveiled by the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Shri Adv. T Siddique, in Kottathara, Wayanad. Others attending the ceremony included Dr. Sekhar L Kuriakose, member secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), Ms. Alokparna Sengupta, managing director, Humane World for Animals India and officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
The shelter, which will be jointly constructed by Humane World for Animals India, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, Wayanad District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and Kottathara Gram Panchayat is expected to be operational by 2027. It is a permanent emergency animal evacuation center designed to provide structured evacuation, temporary housing and medical care for animals during floods and landslides in the Kerala region. Once constructed, the shelter will serve as a hub for efforts to safeguard animals and support the families who depend on them during disasters and a catalyst for continued commitment to build community resilience in the face of future emergencies that put humans and animals at risk.
At the event, Kerala Agriculture minister, Adv. T Siddqi, said “At the event, Kerala Agriculture minister, Adv. T Siddqi, said “This initiative will serve as a model for India and for Kerala. When a disaster strikes, our response should not be limited to rescuing human beings alone; animals must also be included in our rescue and relief efforts. Kerala is pioneering a new model of disaster response that embraces both people and animals. The shelter at Cheerakkath will become a model for the entire country and for Kerala, demonstrating how animal welfare can be integrated into disaster preparedness and response.”
Dr. Sekhar L. Kuriakose, Member Secretary and Chief Resilience Officer, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said: “The thought process behind the approach of this model emergency evacuation shelter involves local consultation and ensuring the shelter is sustainable in the long term. The state is contributing a corpus fund so that the local government does not have to bear the day-to-day maintenance costs. During periods without heavy rainfall or major calamities, the shelter will serve as an income generation facility like rice storage and distribution facility. The proceeds will help fund the shelter’s maintenance, ensuring that it remains functional throughout the year. It is a multipurpose facility, much like other human shelters in Kerala that serve both disaster management and community needs.”
Facts:
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This is a first-of-its-kind shelter in India and will serve as a model for similar facilities across the country.
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The shelter is spread across 50 cents of land, which is 21,780 sq ft or 0.5 acres, equivalent to the size of three tennis courts.
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The facility can house up to 150 animals such as goats, cows, pigs, dogs and cats.
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The facility will include a dedicated space for a veterinary clinic and a quarantine area, a storage and equipment room, all serviced by a proper drainage system.
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The facility will have enough storage to keep food and water to care for 150 animals for up to a week.
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While the construction costs are being borne by Humane World for Animals India, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has put aside a corpus fund of INR 10 Lakhs for the Local Panchayat (Kottathara) to maintain the facility.
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As per the Disaster Memorandum of 2024 landslides released by Kerala SDMA, a total of 226 cows, 165 goats, and 1032 farmed birds perished during the disaster.
Praveen Suresh, senior manager of disaster response at Humane World for Animals India, says: “From our years of working on the ground during disasters, we have witnessed that families are often unwilling to evacuate without their animals, placing both human and animal lives at greater risk. A dedicated evacuation shelter helps enable safer, faster and more coordinated response efforts while protecting livelihoods and community wellbeing. The shelter will also help ensure that no family goes through the pain of choosing between saving themselves or their animals, and the bond stays intact.”
Over the last eight years, Humane World for Animals India has gained a notable presence in Kerala through its disaster preparedness, response and relief efforts. During the 2024 Wayanad landslides, the organization's rescue team aided over 180 animals. In 2026, the organization aided more than 10,000 animals in Kerala affected by floods.
With the support of the authorities and partner organizations, Humane World for Animals India is working to make Kerala a disaster-resilient state for both humans and animals. Among other activities, the organization conducts capacity-building programs for the community through outreach to schools and self-help groups like Kudumbashree.
Humane World for Animals also works proactively on disaster risk reduction initiatives across multiple Indian states, strengthening community preparedness and building systems that safeguard both people and animals before crises strike. In collaboration with local and state authorities and like-minded partners such as UNICEF, AJSA andFireflies, the organization supports capacity building, animal-inclusive disaster management planning, community awareness initiatives and the development of animal-inclusive emergency protocols. This work is undertaken in collaboration with the state and district disaster management authorities, allied departments, Self Help Groups and local NGOs, ensuring that animal welfare is integrated into official disaster risk reduction and response strategies.
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