Web desk: Rano the bear to be shifted from the Karachi Zoo to a safer habitat at the Bear Rehabilitation Centre in Islamabad, following orders from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The Karachi Wildlife Department has issued a notification to transfer a bear named Rano from the zoo today.
The Chief Minister of Sindh, Mr Murad Ali Shah, has issued orders to transfer Rano the bear. The bear will be transferred to the Bear Rehabilitation Centre in Islamabad, the Secretary of the Wildlife Department said.
Rano the Bear to be Shifted: SHC Orders Transfer
Prior to this, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday directed the Karachi Zoo administration to transfer Rano the bear to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board within two days. The court mentioned inadequate living conditions and poor treatment for the female bear.
During the hearing of a petition regarding the bear’s welfare, the court expressed serious dissatisfaction with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) management of the matter.
Both the Wildlife Secretary and the Senior Director of Karachi Zoo had appeared before the bench.
The judges questioned, “How can Rano be kept in such a miserable state? Why do you always wait for court orders before taking action? Why hasn’t the bear been shifted to a safer place yet?”
The petitioners’ counsel informed the court that Rano the bear had been confined to the same enclosure for seven years. On top of that, she was suffering from a severe head infection.
The court called this treatment of the bear inhumane, to keep a voiceless animal imprisoned for such a long time. The court also questioned, “What is the poor creature’s fault?”
The Wildlife Secretary also argued that the Karachi Zoo comes under the KMC’s control and that the Wildlife Department lacks jurisdiction over it.
However, the court reprimanded the authorities for failing to provide medical treatment despite the bear’s worsening health.
