The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare announced on Wednesday that it had launched an investigation into recent reports of sick and dead pigeons sighted in various parts of Malé City.

The Ministry shared the update on the social media platform X, revealing that it was working to determine the cause of the issue after reports emerged of birds being found in poor health or dead.

The Ministry stated that they are actively investigating the situation, and will share the details with the public once the cause is identified. 

Photos released by the Ministry showed birds with visible signs of illness around their eyes and chins.

The affected areas include Jumhooree Maidhaan and Artificial Beach, where large populations of pigeons are known to congregate. These birds are commonly seen gathering in groups across the city.

The Ministry continues to investigate the cause of the issue and will provide further updates once the investigation is complete.