Pakistan court orders Himalayan bears' relocation to Jordan on December 17

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) said on Monday two Himalayan bears, Suzie and Bubloo, currently at the Islamabad Zoo would be moved to a sanctuary in Jordan on December 17.
The former dancing bears are the last animals remaining at the now closed zoological garden, after Kaavan, dubbed the world's loneliest elephant, was moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia.
Despite court orders in May that the bears also be relocated, international animal rights non-profit Four Paws said last week that the government had barred the animals from leaving Pakistan.
But on Monday, the Islamabad High Court ordered that the bears be moved this month.
 “At the start of court proceeding today, Ministry of Climate Change (MCC) and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) submitted a written statement which stated that in the best interest of animals they have allowed the bears to travel to Jordan,” Owais Awan, a lawyer who challenged the climate ministry's decision to revoke the relocation permit, told Arab News on Monday.
“After this, the honorable court ordered their relocation to Jordan and observed that it is illegal to keep animals in cages away from natural habitat."
The bears’ travel to Jordan was first announced in early October, with the Jordanian government saying it would facilitate the relocation. Pakistani authorities initially gave clearance to move them, but retracted the orders before their travel date of December 10.
Dr Amir Khalil, a director at Four Paws, said the organization would move the bears to the Jordanian sanctuary Al Ma’Wa for Nature and Wildlife on December 17. 
Khalil, who oversaw the relocation of Kaavan, said Suzie and Bubloo would find a species-appropriate home and proper care in Jordan.
“As a vet, I am delighted that in the end, humanity and the bears are the winners,” Khalil said.
“The relocation of the two Himalayan Brown Bears Suzie and Bubloo, kept at Marghazar Zoo, has been approved by all involved parties,” IWMB chairwoman Rina S. Khan said in a statement, saying an IWMB staff officer would accompany the bears to Jordan.