KARACHI – The female bear “Rano” from the Karachi Zoo has been relocated to Islamabad following orders from the Sindh High Court, which directed authorities to ensure her safe transfer to a more suitable habitat.
Before her departure, Rano was placed in a special transport cage, where her health, feeding, and behavior were carefully assessed by veterinary experts.
She was then airlifted from Karachi’s Faisal Airbase to Islamabad aboard a C-130 aircraft, under the supervision of wildlife officials.
According to officials, this relocation marks the first phase of Rano’s journey. In the second phase, she will be moved to the forests of Gilgit-Baltistan, where she will live in a semi-wild environment designed to better match her natural habitat.
Rano, believed to be around seven years old, has been one of the most discussed animals at the Karachi Zoo. Over the years, she drew public concern after reports highlighted the poor living conditions and lack of proper facilities for large animals in the zoo.
Animal rights activists had repeatedly appealed for her transfer to a sanctuary where she could receive proper care and freedom of movement.
The Sindh High Court took notice of these complaints earlier this year and instructed the Sindh Wildlife Department and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to arrange her relocation.
The case of Rano follows a series of similar incidents in Pakistan, where courts and animal welfare organizations have intervened to improve the conditions of captive animals.
The most prominent case was that of Kaavan, the Asian elephant from Islamabad Zoo, who was relocated to Cambodia in 2020 after years of public campaigning and judicial intervention.
