Cages of cruelty

Zoos in Pakistan are no less than torture cells. The recent observations of the Sindh High Court on the deplorable state of Karachi Zoo have reignited a long-overdue debate about the moral and practical justification for maintaining zoos anywhere in the country.

Across Pakistan, from Lahore to Karachi, animals languish in cramped cages, deprived of proper food, medical care and space to move. Karachi Zoo, the largest in Sindh, stands as the starkest example of this decay. It employs only a single veterinarian to tend to hundreds of animals, which exposes a grotesque lack of seriousness on the part of civic authorities. The recent case of Rano, the Himalayan bear whose transfer to a sanctuary has been delayed for months, illustrates this indifference perfectly. Her suffering mirrors that of countless other animals trapped in unnatural enclosures under oppressive heat, with little shade and no semblance of the habitats they belong to. Justice Iqbal Kalhoro's remarks that zoos should be shut down and animals relocated to natural spaces like Nooriabad or Kirthar align with global practices. Globally, the concept of the zoo has evolved. In countries where conservation is taken seriously, animals are no longer imprisoned for amusement. Instead, they are rehabilitated in sanctuaries or wildlife parks that mimic natural environments. In Pakistan, however, most zoos remain relics of colonial-era spectacle.

The Sindh High Court's intervention presents a rare opportunity for reflection and reform. Authorities must not treat it as an isolated issue confined to Karachi. Rather, it should spark a nationwide reassessment of all zoological facilities and a gradual transition towards wildlife sanctuaries where animals can live freely and safely. This requires financial investment and, above all, compassion - a quality glaringly absent from our current system. A society is judged by how it treats its voiceless. Pakistan's record in this regard is shameful and must change.