The court-ordered transfer of “Ranu,” a female bear suffering at the Karachi Zoo, has been delayed again, sparking serious concern among animal welfare advocates.
Despite a Sindh High Court order, the bear has not been moved to a safe sanctuary. During an urgent hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer revealed that authorities, who had requested two weeks on October 17, have still not even prepared the transport cage.
The lawyer expressed frustration, stating that a committee established by the Sindh Chief Minister has not responded to a letter sent on October 22 regarding the bear’s situation.
The most disturbing revelation came from an inspection team from Islamabad, which confirmed that Ranu has “insects (maggots) in three wounds on her body,” highlighting the poor conditions and lack of care she is receiving.
Conversely, the Sindh Wildlife Department claims the delay is due to trainers teaching the bear to enter the cage voluntarily. The department stated that Ranu will likely be flown to Islamabad this week to be acclimatized to a natural environment, with an eventual plan to move her to Gilgit-Baltistan as part of a pair.
Reacting to the delays and the bear’s health crisis, the court has now ordered the committee and observers to conduct a full daylight inspection of the zoo on November 2 and submit a comprehensive report by November 6.
