Karachi Zoo Found in ‘Serious Violation’ of Wildlife Protection Laws; NGO Urges Government to Act
Karachi Zoo Found in ‘Serious Violation’ of Wildlife Protection Laws; NGO Urges Government to Act
Sindh – PETA Asia, the continent’s largest animal rights organisation, is urging government authorities to hold the Karachi Zoo fully accountable under the law and to phase out the cruel zoo following reports that the Sindh High Court (SHC) has found the zoo in violation of wildlife protection laws. The SHC’s declaration comes after a court-ordered investigation revealed that animals at the Karachi Zoo suffer from severe neglect.
According to observers appointed by the SHC, animals at the Karachi Zoo had no access to clean water, a white tiger suffered from a severe skin disease, a lonely chimpanzee showed visible signs of depression, and the facility’s veterinary clinic contained a broken X-ray machine, rusted equipment, and a surgical area filled with garbage. Furthermore, the Karachi Zoo’s sole veterinarian, who has been employed there for 30 years, had no formal education in wildlife care, and there were no records of any animal’s medical history.
The SHC sent observers to the Karachi Zoo following a landmark hearing in October, in which judicial authorities ordered the immediate transfer of a Himalayan brown bear to a reputable sanctuary for much-needed care and then questioned whether zoos have a place in modern Pakistan. The 24-year-old bear, named Rano, had languished at the zoo for eight years, five of them in solitary confinement, and she was suffering from a maggot-infested head injury after headbutting the bars of her enclosure – a clear sign of mental distress. Rano was also suffering from nutritional deficiencies due to being fed an inappropriate diet of milk and bread for an extended period. Additionally, the pool in her enclosure had not been cleaned for two years, resulting in a thick layer of dirt and waste.
Rano spent 5 years in solitary confinement at the Karachi Zoo
“The Karachi Zoo is hell on Earth for the hundreds of animals who are caged in filth and deprived of basic needs like water, nutritious food, and veterinary care,” says PETA Asia President Jason Baker. “The Karachi Zoo and other wretched zoos are not above the law, and PETA is urging government officials to ensure that those responsible for animal suffering will be held accountable.”
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any other way” – points out that Every Animal Is Someone. For more information, please visit PETAAsia.com or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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