The Sindh High Court on Thursday questioned whether Karachi should continue to have a zoo after observing the poor conditions and alleged corruption in its management.

The remarks came during the hearing of a petition regarding the relocation of female bear Rano from Karachi Zoo to a safer sanctuary. The government’s counsel informed the court that the bear had already been transferred to Islamabad.

Justice Iqbal Kalhoro remarked that while Rano’s transfer had been completed, “the real question is whether Karachi should even have a zoo, and if it should, then of what kind.” He added that the zoo “cannot continue to operate the way it is.”

The court noted that the zoo’s current state reflected deep-rooted mismanagement, observing that “apart from corruption, nothing seems to be happening there.”

Justice Kalhoro further remarked, “There should be some fear of God; everything will stay here.”

During the proceedings, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) counsel said that “there is always room for improvement, and we can strive to do better.”

The wildlife conservator, Javed Mahar, suggested obtaining expert opinion on whether a zoo should continue to operate in the city.

The court directed the formation of a committee comprising the petitioner, representatives of KMC, the Local Government Department, and other concerned institutions to assess the zoo’s condition.

“Keep only the animals that can be properly cared for and send the rest to national parks,” the court ordered, adding that the ongoing “spectacle” of animal neglect must end.

The bench sought a progress report within 15 days and a final report within one month.

A report submitted in court revealed that the post of veterinary doctor at Karachi Zoo has remained vacant for 20 years.

Of the 700 animals, only one assistant director with a relevant degree and two compounders are available; one of the compounder posts is also vacant.

The report also stated that Safari Park has had no veterinary doctor for seven years, while key positions like head zookeeper, zookeeper, and mahout remain unfilled.

Out of 233 sanctioned animal care staff positions, 116 are vacant due to a government-imposed hiring freeze.

According to the report, the Local Government Department has enforced a ban on recruitments since June 11, 2024.

A panel of veterinary consultants was formed in 1997 to deal with emergencies, and animal welfare group Four Paws has served as a key consultant since 2021.

The KMC has also set up a technical committee led by Sri Lanka’s National Zoological Department Director General Dr Rajapaksa and Dr Aamir Khalil to guide zoo reforms.