Quarantine issue halts import of giraffes, rhinos

The Punjab Wildlife Department's ambitious plan to import exotic animals for the Lahore Zoo and Safari Park has encountered a major obstacle, as the Animal Quarantine Department has withheld clearance for the arrival of giraffes, rhinos, and a hippopotamus from South Africa. The delay marks another setback in the department's broader revamping initiative, which has already seen the suspension of a separate elephant import project.

Although several birds and animals have already been procured from domestic and international sources, the import of larger, high-profile species - including 12 giraffes (nine for the Safari Park and three for the Zoo), three rhinos (a pair for the Safari and one for the Zoo), and a male hippopotamus - remains in limbo.

Director of the Revamping Project, Mudassar Hassan, confirmed that the federal Ministry of Climate Change has already issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the import of various species, including giraffes, rhinos, hippos, nyala antelopes, and zebras. However, the Animal Quarantine Department has withheld final approval, citing disease control concerns - particularly the risk of introducing the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus into Pakistan.

Officials from the Animal Quarantine Department explained that health certificates accompanying the animals are under close scrutiny. "We must ensure full compliance with Pakistan's import health standards," one official said. "If the documentation falls short, additional verification will be requested. This is a routine precaution to protect the country's livestock from foreign diseases."

The department's concern stems from the ongoing presence of the FMD virus in several African countries, including South Africa. While the virus has not been reported in Pakistan, authorities are wary of the potential for an outbreak if infected animals are imported.

As a precautionary measure, a temporary ban has reportedly been imposed on the import of large animals from South Africa. The Quarantine Department has also advised Punjab Wildlife officials to consider alternate sourcing from countries certified free of FMD - an option project leaders say is difficult to implement.

"These species are not readily available in other countries, nor are there sufficient surplus animals," Mudassar Hassan explained. "In addition, only South Africa currently has the specialized cargo infrastructure necessary to transport such large animals."

Hassan further noted that a comprehensive quarantine protocol has been proposed: animals would first undergo health monitoring in South Africa, followed by a 15- to 30-day quarantine upon arrival in Pakistan.

He also emphasised that the specific FMD strain in question has never been reported in rhinos or hippos and that these animals would be housed in isolated zoo and safari environments, far from livestock.

Meanwhile, WWF Pakistan's Dr Uzma Khan raised ethical concerns, urging the government to ensure that imported animals come from captive breeding programs and not the wild.

"Animals caught from the wild often suffer in captivity," she warned. "It is crucial to source from certified breeding farms or zoos in disease-free countries to ensure their wellbeing and ease of adaptation."