A vacation in the Maldives is probably every traveler’s dream… But have you ever wondered if you would like to live there permanently?
Don’t rush to answer. If we rephrase the question as, “Would you like to live in the Maldives knowing that you would never see dogs again?” it takes on a whole new meaning. And this is not fiction, but a reality that may surprise and even shock: there is a ban on keeping dogs in the Maldives.
Dogs are prohibited in the Maldives
The fact is that according to the laws of the Maldives Republic, it is strictly forbidden to have dogs or bring them into the country. The only exception is made for law enforcement agencies: the police use service dogs at customs to detect prohibited items and in certain special operations.
The Maldivian police have service dogs
There are indeed no dogs in the country. Moreover, the immigration form that passengers fill out on their way to this island nation explicitly states that dogs are prohibited. In the Maldives, you can only find cats and other local animals, but not the four-legged friends we are used to.
There are two main theories online about this ban:
- Muslims consider dogs to be unclean, so you will never see them there. Islam prohibits contact with dogs. After coming into contact with a dog, a Muslim must undergo purification. It is believed that a dog defiles a person and their food.
- It’s all about the size of the animals. Provisions are delivered to each island from India, China, and Sri Lanka. Simply put, there is nothing to feed the dogs in the country. Large cargo ships are required to transport food to the Maldives. Consequently, storage facilities are needed. This process would require the establishment of an entire industry. Thus, it was decided to ban the breeding of dogs in the Maldives in order to avoid hunger, thirst and even death of pets.
However, this prohibition does not apply to cats. According to the locals, it’s all about the size of the animals. After all, it’s easier to feed a cat than a dog. She eats from a small bowl, she can catch fish from the ocean, which is constantly eaten by the Maldivians themselves.
Therefore, keeping a cat in the house is not particularly difficult, but keeping a dog is. It is also worth noting that most Maldivians have never seen a dog, cow, horse, chicken, duck, or even a sparrow in their lives. Additionally, most of the country has never traveled more than 50 kilometers away from their island.
Dog in the Maldives
The photos show a middle-aged white woman with a small fluffy dog running along a beach.
to the Maldives with a dog
In another photo, she was carrying a puppy in her arms while talking to local boys.
Is it possible to take a dog to the Maldives?
On social media, many people were wondering if this was really the Maldives.
After an investigation by local media, it turned out that this happened in the Maldives, in the southern atoll of Addu.
After these photos were published, the public began to question the quality of the Maldivian customs service. However, it was later revealed that the dog had arrived on a small private yacht that was anchored in Addu atoll on its way to another country.
Woman with a dog in the Maldives
Woman running with a dog in the Maldives
Pet dogs are often brought on small yachts, but tourists usually do not bring them on land.
Which of the two versions of the ban do you think is more realistic? Share your opinion in the comments 🙂
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