The Lahore High Court has issued notices to the Punjab Wildlife Department and other authorities concerned over the alleged inhumane treatment of wild animals in private zoos and traveling circuses across Punjab.
The action follows a public interest petition filed by Environmental & Animal Rights Consultants (EARC), a legal and research organisation focused on animal and environmental protection.
The petition, led by EARC Director and senior lawyer Advocate Altmash Saeed, highlights the cruel captivity of wild animals such as lions, leopards, and bears in cramped iron cages, often placed in recreational parks and roadside circuses.
"These sentient creatures are held in degrading conditions, deprived of their natural behaviour and suffering in sweltering heat," the petition stated, adding that the practice violates both ethical standards and the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Act.
Taking initial cognisance, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh directed provincial authorities to conduct inspections of the identified facilities and submit comprehensive reports.
He emphasised that wild animals are not objects of entertainment but living beings entitled to humane treatment.
The petition demands a constitutional ban on the private captivity of wild animals and the relocation of all such animals to certified sanctuaries, where they can receive proper care and begin psychological recovery from prolonged mistreatment.
Advocate Saeed termed the court's action a watershed moment for animal rights in Pakistan.
"This is about enforcing the law and giving voiceless beings the dignity they deserve," he said.
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