ISLAMABAD: Two Himalayan bears which were going to be relocated from Islamabad Zoo to a Jordanian sanctuary run by Princess Alia Foundation, have been barred from leaving Pakistan, animal welfare organization Four Paws said on Wednesday evening.
The former dancing bears, Suzie and Bubloo, are the last animals remaining at the now closed zoological garden, after elephant Kaavan was moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia last week.
"Everything was planned and organised for the transfer tomorrow, but then our team were surprised by a disappointing announcement: At the very last moment, the ministry of climate change cancelled the export permit of the bears to leave the country for unknown reasons," Four Paws said in a series of tweets.
After several animals have died at the Islamabad Zoo, reportedly due to negligence of their keepers, the Islamabad High Court in May ordered that the bears be relocated.
Their relocation to Al-Ma’wa wildlife preserve was announced in early October and the bears were awaiting clearance from the Pakistani government.
Following the climate ministry's Wednesday announcement, Four Paws said that the Islamabad High Court had issued an order summoning the ministry and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to follow the previous court orders.
"We are confident that the state of Pakistan will follow the court orders to support the relocation of Suzie and Bubloo," Four Paws tweeted.
Suzie, a female Himalayan bear which is awaiting relocation to Jordan, is sitting in her enclosure at Islamabad Zoo on Oct. 3, 2020. (AN photo)
The Jordanian sanctuary, established in 2011 by Princess Alia Foundation and Four Paws in Jerash, northern Jordan, provides home to a number of wild and exotic animals rescued from traffickers, abusive owners or poorly run zoos.
When the relocation of Suzie and Bubloo was announced two months ago, Four Paws coordinator Haniya Tariq told Arab News the bears were not properly looked after at Islamabad Zoo.
“The bears, especially Suzie, were living in very bad conditions before the arrival of the Four Paws team from Austria. Her diet was entirely unsuitable. Milk was causing diarrhea. She was unhappy over here. Her nails were grown so much that she could not walk properly,” she said.
