November 9, 2025
DAWN
• After Rano’s relocation to Islamabad, bench broadens scope of petition to welfare of all zoo animals
• In written order released on Saturday, court orders formation of new committee comprising govt officials and civil society members to inspect zoos across Sindh
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has ordered formation of a new committee to visit zoos across the province and suggest steps for improvement as well as sending the exotic animals to their natural habitats.
Inviting suggestions to phase out zoos in the entire province, a two-judge SHC bench comprising Justice Mohammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Syed Fiaz-ul-Hassan Shah declared that the court had decided to examine the whole concept of keeping zoos and caging animals.
The remarks were part of a written order issued on Saturday regarding the Nov 6 hearing of a petition seeking shifting of lone female bear Rano from Karachi Zoological Gardens to Bear Sanctuary, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board.
The order stated that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and other respondents filed statements and reports and submitted that Rano had been successfully transported to the federal capital on Nov 5 in compliance with the orders issued by the bench earlier.
However, the bench enhanced the scope of the petition from Rano to the welfare of all animals kept in zoos and invited suggestions as to how to phase out zoos in the entire province.
Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar proposed that a committee may be constituted with the municipal commissioner, forest & wildlife secretary, wildlife conservator and KMC’s senior director-zoo as its members.
Representing the petitioner, Mohammad Jibran Nasir also suggested that philanthropist Ava Ardeshir Cowasjee, Dr Uzma Khan from Asia lead for WWF Pakistan, Advocate Nazia Hanjrah, Zhalay Sarhadi and petitioner/animal rights activist Jude Allen Preira may also be made part of the committee.
The bench ordered constitution of the committee and inclusion of all the names suggested by the wildlife conservator and the petitioner’s counsel.
The bench in its order stated: “In addition, the committee shall be given mandate to co-opt experts of the subject fields, who shall visit the zoos in the province and suggests steps for improvement in the zoos and identify issues being confronted by them at the moment to resolve them as a short term measure. As a long term measures, they shall recommend steps to be taken which may include but not limited to sending the exotic animals to their natural habitat.”
It further stated that as per the petitioner’s counsel the committee, constituted by the chief minister for shifting of Rano, had visited Karachi Zoo and found all the medical equipment out of order.
The bench stated that Zoo Director Aklaq Ahmed Yousufzai had undertaken to replace all out-of-order machines immediately and to outsource vets for treatment of the animals.
The hearing was adjourned till Nov 21.
At a previous hearing, the bench had directed the committee formed by the CM to visit the Karachi zoo and prepare a detailed report about the number of animals kept there as well as their physical and mental health.
It also asked the committee to examine the circumstances under which animals are being kept as well as to identify the animals as natives or exotic and must also make recommendations for improving the situation if it found the animals were kept in improper conditions.
The bench further ruled that since the issue was not of one bear but hundreds of animals being kept in captivity apparently just for entertainment of people and court has decided to examine the whole concept of keeping zoos and caging animals.
Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2025
India mega-zoo in spotlight again over animal acquisitions
By AFP
November 8, 2025
Vantara holds tens of thousands of animals, including some of the world's most endangered species - Copyright AFP/File Idrees MOHAMMED
Sara HUSSEIN
Leading wildlife protection experts have urged India to suspend all imports of the world’s most endangered species, endorsing long-running concerns by conservationists about mass acquisitions by mega-zoo Vantara.
The facility in western Gujarat state, officially known as the Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, is run by the son of Asia’s richest man.
It has scooped up tens of thousands of animals in recent years, and was subject to an Indian Supreme Court review that cleared it of any wrongdoing.
But experts from the world’s top wildlife watchdog — the secretariat overseeing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — have warned Vantara may have imported highly endangered species in violation of international rules.
In a report published ahead of CITES talks this month, they found a “large number of imports… appear to be inconsistent” with rules protecting so-called Appendix I species, the world’s most threatened animals.
They recommended serious reforms to ensure Vantara does “not inadvertently become a driver of illegal harvest of wild animals”.
Vantara and India’s environment ministry did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
Experts have repeatedly sounded the alarm on Vantara’s massive animal intake. The facility claims to have 150,000 animals, though CITES officials said closer to 47,000 were reported during a September visit.
“This report raises more questions than it answers,” said Mark Jones, head of policy at wildlife group Born Free.
“Why the discrepancies in numbers? Why import so many animals from so many species across the world… Who is supplying these animals, and how can we be sure they’re not being traded for profit?”
– ‘Really, really shocking’ –
CITES examined a laundry list of allegations involving endangered animals including the world’s most endangered great ape — the Tapanuli orangutan.
AFP earlier this year reported that Vantara had acquired a Tapanuli orangutan from the United Arab Emirates that originated in Indonesia.
CITES prohibits trade in the world’s most endangered species, but there are exceptions, including for “captive-bred” animals.
The Tapanuli orangutan, like many of Vantara’s rarest acquisitions, was given this designation.
But multiple experts told AFP there are no captive breeding programmes for the species in Indonesia — home to all the estimated 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the world.
Similar cases involving cheetahs from Syria, a gorilla from Haiti, and bonobos from Iraq are among those questioned by CITES.
The report “is evidence of Vantara’s problematic acquisitions,” said Panut Hadisiswoyo, founder and chairman of the Orangutan Information Centre in Indonesia.
He has been lobbying, so far unsuccessfully, for the return of several orangutans in Vantara, including a smuggled animal intercepted in India and handed to the facility.
The CITES report says Vantara has acquired more than 2,000 Appendix I animals and nearly 9,000 from less endangered species.
“It’s really, really shocking, the number is huge,” Panut said.
“Vantara is exploiting legal loopholes and undermining Appendix I.”
– ‘Exemplary action’ –
The CITES report acknowledges Vantara’s world-class facilities, but urges India to review its import procedures, bolster capacity and more closely scrutinise permits.
Independent wildlife trade expert Daniel Stiles said the report was “a true examination” of Vantara.
“We’ll see if anything changes for the better.”
CITES has asked India to report back on its progress, and it could face measures, including trade suspension, if it does not fully address the concerns.
The findings are “deeply concerning and damaging to India’s conservation credibility”, warned K. Yoganand, a longtime conservation expert in India and Southeast Asia.
“Restoring India’s global standing, damaged by the irregularities surrounding these imports, will require exemplary action.”
By AFP
November 8, 2025
Vantara holds tens of thousands of animals, including some of the world's most endangered species - Copyright AFP/File Idrees MOHAMMED
Sara HUSSEIN
Leading wildlife protection experts have urged India to suspend all imports of the world’s most endangered species, endorsing long-running concerns by conservationists about mass acquisitions by mega-zoo Vantara.
The facility in western Gujarat state, officially known as the Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, is run by the son of Asia’s richest man.
It has scooped up tens of thousands of animals in recent years, and was subject to an Indian Supreme Court review that cleared it of any wrongdoing.
But experts from the world’s top wildlife watchdog — the secretariat overseeing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) — have warned Vantara may have imported highly endangered species in violation of international rules.
In a report published ahead of CITES talks this month, they found a “large number of imports… appear to be inconsistent” with rules protecting so-called Appendix I species, the world’s most threatened animals.
They recommended serious reforms to ensure Vantara does “not inadvertently become a driver of illegal harvest of wild animals”.
Vantara and India’s environment ministry did not respond to AFP requests for comment.
Experts have repeatedly sounded the alarm on Vantara’s massive animal intake. The facility claims to have 150,000 animals, though CITES officials said closer to 47,000 were reported during a September visit.
“This report raises more questions than it answers,” said Mark Jones, head of policy at wildlife group Born Free.
“Why the discrepancies in numbers? Why import so many animals from so many species across the world… Who is supplying these animals, and how can we be sure they’re not being traded for profit?”
– ‘Really, really shocking’ –
CITES examined a laundry list of allegations involving endangered animals including the world’s most endangered great ape — the Tapanuli orangutan.
AFP earlier this year reported that Vantara had acquired a Tapanuli orangutan from the United Arab Emirates that originated in Indonesia.
CITES prohibits trade in the world’s most endangered species, but there are exceptions, including for “captive-bred” animals.
The Tapanuli orangutan, like many of Vantara’s rarest acquisitions, was given this designation.
But multiple experts told AFP there are no captive breeding programmes for the species in Indonesia — home to all the estimated 800 Tapanuli orangutans left in the world.
Similar cases involving cheetahs from Syria, a gorilla from Haiti, and bonobos from Iraq are among those questioned by CITES.
The report “is evidence of Vantara’s problematic acquisitions,” said Panut Hadisiswoyo, founder and chairman of the Orangutan Information Centre in Indonesia.
He has been lobbying, so far unsuccessfully, for the return of several orangutans in Vantara, including a smuggled animal intercepted in India and handed to the facility.
The CITES report says Vantara has acquired more than 2,000 Appendix I animals and nearly 9,000 from less endangered species.
“It’s really, really shocking, the number is huge,” Panut said.
“Vantara is exploiting legal loopholes and undermining Appendix I.”
– ‘Exemplary action’ –
The CITES report acknowledges Vantara’s world-class facilities, but urges India to review its import procedures, bolster capacity and more closely scrutinise permits.
Independent wildlife trade expert Daniel Stiles said the report was “a true examination” of Vantara.
“We’ll see if anything changes for the better.”
CITES has asked India to report back on its progress, and it could face measures, including trade suspension, if it does not fully address the concerns.
The findings are “deeply concerning and damaging to India’s conservation credibility”, warned K. Yoganand, a longtime conservation expert in India and Southeast Asia.
“Restoring India’s global standing, damaged by the irregularities surrounding these imports, will require exemplary action.”
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