KARACHI: A Himalayan brown bear named Rano will be airlifted from Karachi Zoo to a wildlife sanctuary near Islamabad Wednesday morning, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) said on Tuesday, after a court ordered her relocation from the southern port city to a more suitable environment.
The Sindh High Court had directed the KMC and the Sindh Wildlife Department to move the bear to a facility managed by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, citing concerns about her health and welfare after years in Karachi’s tropical heat.
“In accordance with the orders of the Sindh High Court, preparations for the relocation of Rano, from Karachi Zoo to Islamabad, have been finalized,” the KMC said in a statement.
A high-level meeting on Tuesday reviewed Rano’s training response and overall health, according to the statement.
Officials, including Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Mahar, who was appointed by the court to supervise the move, visited her enclosure to assess her condition and record observations.
Following the inspection, access to Rano’s enclosure was restricted to all except Mahera Omer, a filmmaker who will document the relocation as teams from Karachi Zoo and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board guide the bear into her transport crate.
“Rano will depart Karachi Zoo at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow and will be flown from PAF Base Faisal, Karachi, to Islamabad via the C-130 aircraft,” the statement said.
The KMC added that entry to the zoo would remain restricted during the operation and that essential visuals would be shared with the media afterward to ensure the process proceeds safely and without disruption.
Rano’s relocation comes amid growing calls for reform in Pakistan’s zoo system, which has faced criticism and legal action over animal welfare standards following similar cases involving elephants and lions.
