Bears at Islamabad Zoo to be flown abroad

The two Himalayan brown bears, who were rescued from captivity and shifted to the Islamabad Zoo, have been granted clearance for travel to a sanctuary abroad.

This was disclosed in documents submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday.

As IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard a case on shifting animals at Islamabad’s Marghzar Zoo, including bears and the lone pachyderm 'Kaavan', the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tayyab Shah appeared before the court.

DAG Shah told the court that no-objection certificates (NOCs) for shifting the bears have been issued by the relevant government department.

The court was further informed that one of the bears will be shifted to Bulgaria while the second will be sent to Jordan.

On shifting Kaavan, the court was told that the cage in which the elephant will be transported to the sanctuary in Cambodia has been prepared and will be shifted to the zoo soon.

When CJ Minallah asked about Kaavan’s health, DAG Shah said that Dr Amir Khalil’s team will visit him on Sunday.

The court sought a progress report from the government and adjourned hearing till November 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2020.