Jakarta plans to introduce “cat island” to help strays and boost tourism
Governor of Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta has indicated plans to create an island just for stray cats.
The plan, inspired by Japan’s famous cat islands, aims to control the growing number of stray cats in the city while also attracting tourists.
According to Pramono Anung , Jakarta has many cat lovers, and this project could bring in money for the Thousand Islands regency.
The island will not only be a home for stray cats but also a place to care for them and will include a rehabilitation centre and a hospital for cats.
The idea has the support of local cat lover groups, who have dreamed of such a place for years. They believe the island will attract both locals and tourists from other countries.
Pramono recently received an award from the Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI) for sterilising 1,000 cats in February. His goal is to reach 21,000 stray cats this year.
The Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Agency says sterilisation is the best way to control the stray cat population without harming the animals.
Jakarta has been a rabies-free city since 2004, and the government aims to sustain this status. Officials say too many stray cats can cause problems like property damage and the spread of diseases.
Last year, people in Jakarta made 465 complaints about stray cats. Authorities estimate that the city had about 860,000 stray cats in 2023.
Experts warn that if the cat population keeps growing, it could lead to serious health risks. Some diseases, like rabies and toxoplasmosis, can spread from cats to humans.
