In a significant development for wildlife welfare, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a stay order halting the proposed transfer of endangered Brazilian rainforest monkeys from Karachi to the Lahore Zoo.
The court’s decision provides a temporary safeguard for the rare species, currently under the care of the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF) Animal Rescue, an animal welfare organisation based in Karachi.
According to a report dated May 6, 2025, by the Ministry of Climate Change, the relocation plan involved shifting the monkeys to the Lahore Zoo. However, this move triggered widespread concern among environmentalists, animal rights organizations, and civil society activists, who warned of potential threats to the monkeys’ wellbeing.
The petition was filed by Altamush Saeed and Ahmad Shoaib Atta, affiliated with the Environmental and Animal Rights Counsel (EARC). In their submission, the petitioners argued that the current conditions at Lahore Zoo are wholly unsuitable for housing such rare and sensitive primates.
They cited high mortality rates among animals, extreme temperatures, substandard veterinary facilities, and inadequate infrastructure—concerns that have also been validated by national and international bodies, including WWF Pakistan.
The petitioners further maintained that the monkeys would be safest in their native habitat—the Brazilian rainforest—and that no facility in Pakistan can replicate the ecological conditions necessary for their survival.
They have urged international wildlife organizations to intervene and facilitate the monkeys’ repatriation to their natural habitat.
The court has issued notices to the relevant government departments and sought a formal response. The matter has been adjourned for further hearing in September 2025.
