In an important development for the well-being of fauna, the High Court of Lahore (LHC) made a suspension prescription prohibiting the proposed transfer of Brazilian monkeys endangered from Karachi to the Lahore zoo.
The court’s decision provides a temporary safeguard for rare species, currently under the care of the Ayesha Chundrigar (ACF) Foundation, an animal protection organization based in Karachi.
According to a report dated May 6, 2025 by the Ministry of Climate Change, the relocation plan consisted in moving the monkeys to the Lahore zoo. However, this decision aroused a general concern among environmentalists, animal rights organizations and civil society activists, who warned of potential threats to the well-being of monkeys.
The petition was deposited by Altamush Saeed and Ahmad Shoaib Atta, affiliated with the Council of Environment and Animal Rights (EARC). In their submission, the petitioners argued that the current conditions at the Lahore zoo are entirely unsuitable for the accommodation of so rare and sensitive primates.
They have cited high mortality rates in animals, extreme temperatures, lower quality veterinary installations and inadequate infrastructure – conferences that have also been validated by national and international organizations, including WWF Pakistan.
The petitioners also argued that the monkeys would be the safest in their native habitat – the Brazilian tropical forest – and that no installation in Pakistan can reproduce the ecological conditions necessary for their survival.
They urged international organizations on fauna to intervene and facilitate the repatriation of monkeys to their natural habitat.
The court issued opinions to the ministries concerned and asked for an official response. The case was postponed for a new hearing in September 2025.
