Amsterdam will modernize its canals. City officials have one goal in mind.

The Dutch capital's councilors have decided to take care of the city's fauna. According to a new resolution, tiny emergency stairs leading to the shore will be installed along the canals. The initiative aims to protect wild animals that regularly fall into the water and are unable to escape. A similar solution was previously implemented in another Dutch city, Amersfoort.

Amsterdam city councilors have approved a €100,000 grant to install tiny wooden staircases along the city's canals. This is intended to protect wild animals that fall into the water and drown, unable to reach shore. The Dutch capital's authorities will ask Dierenambulance , an animal emergency service , to identify the most common drowning locations for cats and other animals.

The project was inspired by a solution previously implemented by the city of Amersfoort , located in the central province of Utrecht. In June, it was announced that 300 emergency ladders would be installed along waterways to prevent drowning of wildlife. The steps are equipped with a special mesh to improve grip for cats' paws.

Amsterdam/photo: Shutterstock

As Maggie Ruitenberg from the Dutch cat knowledge center, Katten Kenniscentrum, points out, although these four-legged creatures can swim, they get tired very quickly in the water because of their fur.

- These steps can really save their lives - if there are enough of them - she said in an interview with the "Volkskrant" daily.

Not only animals but also people die in Amsterdam's canals. Official data indicates that approximately 14 people die from drowning there each year. Over the past decade, 142 people have died this way – mostly foreign tourists who fell into the water under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In some places, the canals are equipped with special ledges to grab onto if you have trouble getting out of the water.