KARACHI: Rano, a Himalayan brown bear kept at the Karachi Zoo for more than seven years, was airlifted to Islamabad on Wednesday in compliance with a court directive, after a welfare petition documented distress, behavioral trauma and injuries linked to her captivity in an unsuitable tropical enclosure.
The move marks the first phase of her relocation to a sanctuary in Gilgit-Baltistan, where the environment more closely resembles her native mountain habitat. The case has reignited national debate about the future of urban zoos in Pakistan and the treatment of large mammals kept in confined displays for public viewing.
The transfer operation was overseen by a Sindh provincial government committee that included animal welfare activists to ensure transparency and compliance with court orders. Rano had undergone several weeks of conditioning to voluntarily enter her travel crate to avoid sedation and stress.
“Rano the bear, who had already been familiarized with her transport crate at Zoo, was taken to the PAF Airbase today morning… and flown to Islamabad,” Sindh Wildlife Chief Javed Mehar told Arab News.
He said the relocation was carried out “under the supervision of a government-appointed committee… in full compliance with the [Sindh High] court’s orders.”
