A ginger cat named Wilson was rescued from a deserted island in Meemu atoll after tourists heard him crying for help.
The lonely cat was found on Fenboa Finolhu, an uninhabited island. His story quickly spread on social media and led to a rescue mission organised by local animal welfare groups.
Tourists discover the stranded cat
Tourists visiting the island heard a cat crying before they even saw him.
When they stepped ashore from their safari boat, they found a small ginger cat alone on the island. The cat appeared hungry, lonely and desperate for attention.
One tourist, Melissa McDevitt, wanted to rescue him immediately. However, the safari boat had a strict rule that did not allow pets onboard.
Instead, she shared a message in a Facebook group asking for help.
Internet names the cat Wilson
The story quickly spread online.
Soon, people on the internet began calling the cat Wilson, inspired by the volleyball named Wilson in the movie Castaway, starring Tom Hanks.
Animal welfare groups in Maldives soon saw the post and began planning a rescue.
Rescue team travels to the island
The rescue was organised by Zoophilist Maldives with support from Tofu Foundation.
The team contacted volunteers in Meemu Maduvvari and sent rescuers to the island.
It took two days to complete the rescue.
Because the search happened during Ramadan, the rescue team had to travel to the island in the afternoon and wait there until evening while fasting. They even had their iftar meal on the island while waiting for the cat to appear.
Eventually Wilson showed up, and the rescuers safely placed him inside a pet carrier and brought him back by speedboat.
Medical care for Wilson
After the rescue, Wilson was first taken to Maduvvari where a local woman offered to care for him.
However, rescuers soon realised the cat might be sick. Since he had been stranded on the island without fresh drinking water, they suspected he had a urine infection.
Wilson was brought to Malé and then taken to Atoll Vet Care, a veterinary clinic in Hulhumalé.
An X-ray showed that his bladder was full and he could not pass urine because of an infection.
The veterinarian treated Wilson, gave him antibiotics and medication, and later neutered and vaccinated him.
Cost of the rescue
The rescue mission, including the speedboat trip and veterinary care, cost nearly MVR 10,000, which is about US$648.
Tofu Foundation helped pay the bills so that Wilson could receive proper care.
A wider problem of abandoned animals
Animal welfare groups later learned that Wilson may have been abandoned by someone from Meemu Dhiggaru.
According to Zoophilist Maldives, animal abandonment is a serious problem in Maldives.
Without proper care and neutering, stray cat populations grow quickly. This can lead to illness, injuries and even poisoning of cats.
Animal welfare groups say that spaying and neutering pets can help reduce the number of stray animals and improve animal welfare across Maldives.
Today, Wilson is healthy and ready to be adopted into a new home.
Photo: Wilson
