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WILDLIFE: WHAT RANO LEFT BEHIND
When Rano was airlifted to Islamabad on November 5, 2025, the 25-year-old Himalayan brown bear left behind more than just a confined, concrete enclosure at Karachi Zoo.
She left eight years of untreated injuries and the memory of her companion — an Asiatic black bear who died five years ago. Her relocation to a rehabilitation centre under the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) came by court order, pushed by animal rights activists who had watched her deteriorate for years.
Rano isn’t the first animal to be relocated from a zoo in Pakistan. Last year, the elephant Madhubala was relocated, following an outcry in the wake of viral videos of the distressed and disease-addled animal, to the sprawling Safari Park in Karachi. Before that, another elephant called Kaavan, dubbed the “loneliest elephant on the planet”, was relocated from a zoo in Islamabad to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia.
Such relocations have been hailed as symbolic victories by animal rights’ activists in Pakistan; rare moments of optimism and hope where such sentiments have become increasingly difficult to summon.
The relocation of a brown bear called Rano from the Karachi Zoo to an Islamabad sanctuary is as much a glimmer of hope as it is a damning indictment. Rano’s years of untreated injuries and psychological trauma are a microcosm of the suffering endured by every species at the zoo…
However, Karachi-based activist Jude Allen Pereira cautions that it takes time to reverse the long-term physical and emotional damage endured by these animals at zoos. Even as videos emerge of Rano appearing playful and content in her new surroundings, Allen tells Eos that the animal is still suffering from multiple chronic health issues, most critically severe dental problems that hinder her ability to eat a diet appropriate for her species.
While Rano is in a place where her battered body might begin to heal, her second chance casts a harsh light on those left behind. The same court that ordered her rescue also demanded answers: what is happening inside Karachi Zoo? On November 2 — three days before Rano’s departure — an inspection team was ordered to find out.
WHAT THE INSPECTORS FOUND
The members who eventually took part in the inspection on November 2 included Pereira, WWF-Pakistan President Nadeem Khalid, wildlife photographer Zafeer Ahmed Shaikh, Sindh Institute of Animal Health Director General Dr Nazeer Kalhoro, documentary filmmaker Mahera Omar and journalist Yusra Askari. Assisting them was a team from the IWMB.
Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir, who accompanied the team as an observer, says that the government members of the committee asked them not to use their cameras to document evidence. “Even the media was initially barred from entering the zoo,” Nasir tells Eos.
After initial hiccups, the team made it to the lions’ enclosure, where one of the lions had a visible patch of skin disease, but the zoo veterinarian Dr Amir Rizvi failed to explain it adequately. Khalid points out that the enclosure housing the big cats is a little over half the recommended size.
In a small, dimly lit cage not far away were two miniature horses, Bruno and Brownie. Bruno appeared to have a limp while Brownie was rooted to her spot. Upon inquiring about their health, Pereira says the zoo staff insisted the equines were in “optimal health and were even sometimes used for riding by visitors.”
Pereira says that zoo staff were dismissive of concerns that public riding violates zoo protocol, saying it happens only sometimes. “Such statements epitomise the normalisation of cruelty and ignorance within KMC’s animal care practices,” he says.
PATTERNS OF DISTRESS
At the cage holding porcupines, only three were left out of more than a dozen not too long ago. The enclosure is concrete-floored, which is alien to a species that instinctively burrows and lives on soft soil. According to the zoo doctor, the animals had been shifted to the cage “temporarily” due to a large renovation project. A photo shared by one of the inspection team members showed the porcupines in the same cage in 2023 as well.
Inside the cage, one of the porcupines repeatedly rammed his head against the concrete wall of the resting area; an aggressive, self-harming behaviour that wildlife experts link to extreme anxiety or distress.
The jackal’s enclosure offered yet another display of distress. For 15 minutes, says Nasir, the committee watched the animal trace the same pattern over and over again: a tight, continuous figure-of-eight.
Animal welfare experts have a term for this behaviour: zoochosis. It is a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos. These behaviours — sometimes called stereotypical behaviour — include pacing, swaying, head-bobbing, feather plucking, bar-biting, and even self-mutilation.
SYSTEMIC FAILURES
In one enclosure for rhesus macaque monkeys, the inspection team noted there was no water or food. One monkey was gnawing on the wrapping paper of a cupcake. Another displayed a classic indicator of stress and boredom: every 45 seconds, it ran and flipped into an upside-down posture, a behaviour triggered by anxiety.
Two other monkeys bore visible injuries. Their inner thighs were blood-red from repeated contact with a rusted, corroded swing (the only entertainment provided). As more visitors gathered, the monkeys tried to seek refuge in their resting area, but they were locked out. For 10-12 hours a day, the monkeys are forced to remain in the public zone, exposed and on display. “These primates require immediate relocation to a sanctuary environment rich in greenery and stimulation,” says Pereira.
In the marine life section of the zoo, a water tank meant to display Oscar fish — a vibrant species native to South America — four fish lay heaped at the bottom, motionless. But instead of concern, the zoo management’s first instinct appeared to be deflection, Nasir tells Eos. “The officials told us the aquarium has been handed over to a private contractor and was not their responsibility.”
The team then met with the man said to be the in-charge of the aquatic section and learned that he had previously worked as a plumber in the same section. “At some point, the management simply assigned him control over the entire aquatic collection,” says Nasir.
THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which oversees the 43-acre zoo, has long defended the zoo’s management. KMC spokesperson Daniyal Siyal insists the system is transparent: funds flow from the Sindh government through the octroi and zilla tax mechanism (a local taxation system), and the zoo’s revenue from tickets and concessions goes directly to KMC, which then allocates about 15 percent back to operations.
“In the first three months of 2025 alone, the zoo brought in roughly 10 to 15 million rupees,” Siyal tells Eos. He rejects accusations of ghost employees or financial mismanagement, pointing to what he describes as a dedicated veterinary team and an 11-member caretaking staff.
However, members of the inspection team, including Khalid, note that there is only one veterinarian responsible for the entire facility. “[There is] no diagnostic equipment [X-ray, microscope] available and the quarantine section comprises only a few vacant cages,” Khalid tells Eos.
Pereira was scathing in his assessment, saying that the clinic was “a dumping area masquerading as a medical room.” Another inspection team member, who requested not be named, says the operation theatre “was in disrepair and seemed not to have been used in years.”
Aside from that, the team highlighted issues ranging from animal tagging, record keeping, medical details and feed storage. Khalid says that the feed is stored under unhygienic conditions, with evidence of worms in freezers. He also points out that treatment records are maintained informally by the veterinarian and no standardised documentation system exists.
As of now, according to Siyal, the zoo houses 765 animals, including 121 mammals, 512 birds and 132 reptiles. These belong to 59 species in total. The records show that, while the zoo hosts a range of species, many of them are living alone, without mates. Among the unpaired animals are a female white lion, a female chimpanzee, a male puma, a male jackal, and a male Arabian oryx. The absence of appropriate pairs has long raised concerns among wildlife experts, who argue that social isolation adds another layer of stress to already confined animals. KMC acknowledges this imbalance but frames it as a logistical challenge rather than neglect.
Siyal also provided a list of prominent deaths over the past five years. These include a male white lion, a male zebra, both a male and female chimpanzee, a female tiger and a male tabby tiger.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Experts and activists who study Karachi Zoo agree on the diagnosis but diverge sharply on the solution. For Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar, the collapse reflects Pakistan’s broader reliance on generalists rather than specialists.
“Improving the zoo is neither difficult nor costly,” he tells Eos. “What it requires is leadership from a trained ecologist, a wildlife biologist, and an architect — expertise Pakistan has long sidelined.” He envisions a deliberate, well-designed improvement plan spanning two to five years, rooted in legislative reform and structural change.
But for Periera, reform isn’t enough. He argues for an orderly and humane phase-out of all captive wildlife, returning the facility to its original purpose as a botanical garden and heritage site — “a space for empathy, education and environmental awareness, not animal exploitation.”
Rano’s escape from Karachi Zoo is an emblem of what is possible when trained hands, structured care and institutional transparency align. But her story also reveals the extent of the suffering that remains. Her untreated wound, her years without a comforting human touch and her psychological scars reflect the experience of countless animals still confined in the failing institution she has finally left behind.
As Allen put it, “Karachi Zoo today stands as a mirror of administrative rot and cruelty, not of conservation or education.”
Its transformation into a space of compassion, accountability, and learning would not only honour the animals who have suffered within its walls but would finally bring meaning to Rano’s long-awaited freedom.
The writer is a member of staff. She may be contacted at aniqakhandawn@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, EOS, November 30th, 2025
Recycling things is one of those habits that makes you feel proud, like you did something good without trying too hard and also helped the environment.
We all have things lying around, some in use, some totally useless, and half the time we don’t even notice them. So one random moment, a thought came into my mind: why not turn a paper cup into something useful instead of throwing it away? And then I came up with making this tiny DIY craft dustbin from a simple paper cup. It’s a small, fun idea that actually “works” and looks cute on the table. Let’s start making.
Things you need:
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Two paper cups (you can also use plastic)
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Scotch tape
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Scissors
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Craft stick one
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Pencil
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Glue stick
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Two pieces of coloured paper (green and any other colour)
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Hot glue (optional)
Directions:
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Put the cup upside down on any coloured paper (other than green). Trace a circle around the rim with a pencil and cut it out; pictures 2 and 3.
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Take another paper cup and cut off the curved top part along with about one centimetre of the cup below it; see pictures 4 and 5. This trimmed cup will go inside the main cup later.
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Cut a cup-wrap shape from green paper. Then cover the outside of the main cup with a glue stick; pictures 6 and 7.
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Make a small slit at the bottom of the cup, with scissors or a paper cutter, just big enough for a craft stick to slide in easily; pictures 8 and 9.
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On the craft stick, measure about one inch from one end, flatten the curved sides and paste the flattened part down one inch from one side of the remaining stick; see pictures 10 and 11.
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Carefully push the smaller end of the stick into the slit at the bottom of the cup, leaving the longer part of the stick outside; see picture 12.
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Now insert the smaller cut cup (the one we trimmed earlier) inside the main cup; picture 13.
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Take the circle you cut from the coloured paper in step 1, place it on top of your dustbin as a lid and tape it on from one side with scotch tape. When you press the stick outside, the inner cup lifts upward and the lid opens just like the real dustbins; see picture 14.
Isn’t it amazing and cute DIY?
The writer can be contacted at ithecraftman@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
My school had taken us to the State Bank Museum as part of its educational field trip programme. I was on cloud nine, as I had a keen interest in finance and how the commerce and banking system operate. My friends had brought snacks for the trip and we enjoyed them along with constant giggles and commotion. The view was mesmerising as we passed the beach, watching the waves seamlessly crash into the sand.
As we reached our destination, my eyes immediately locked onto the massive building. It was a fine piece of stone and brick, with the marble shimmering in the distance. I noticed the lead used for the windows and the concrete shaping the entrance. According to the guide, the materials used in designing and building this colossal structure had been imported from England and Italy decades ago and had been well preserved ever since.
The air conditioner’s cool air greeted us as we entered the museum’s premises. The guide showed us a presentation about money and how it had evolved over the decades. After that, we were escorted to a room with large paintings.
They resembled Roman mosaics and contained a great deal of colour and detail. I learnt that the paintings explained how commerce worked in ancient times through barter trading and then gold. Agriculture was also visible in the paintings, highlighting its significance, and then modern-day banknotes and vaults were also depicted. We looked at a few other paintings, but quickly began to feel listless, as did the others; only a true artist could comprehend and appreciate the effort put into them, which we were not.
Moving on, we entered a room filled with glass cases. They contained numerous coins of various colours and sizes. Different figures were engraved on them and they looked fascinating. Alongside them were ancient forms of money, such as seashells, miniature clay tablets and so on.
“These are ancient relics spanning from the kingdoms in India, such as the Guptas and Dravidians, to the Muslim and Mongol empires,” explained the guide.
I scanned the cases, pondering how each ruler was so eager to have their face minted on the coins of their kingdoms. I came across old banknotes as well, dating back to the time the British ruled India. The banknotes had pictures of King George of England on them and I felt as if I had teleported back in time, especially since the interior of the museum also resembled a British building from the post–World War II era.
The guide then led us to a hall decorated with stamps and posters collected over the past century. Looking at posters and stamps doesn’t really float my boat, so I slipped out of the crowd.
Suddenly, something peculiar caught my attention. Bizarre sounds were echoing from a room and curiosity gripped me. I made my way towards it. A person was inside, their face obscured by a veil. I was puzzled as to whether the figure was male or female, but I was determined to uncover their identity. Just then, I couldn’t control myself and sneezed.
The figure spun around and noticed me. I held my composure, keeping my eyes locked on the mysterious person, and spotted a rope within my reach. My heart began racing, yet I steadied myself and flung the rope at the individual’s feet, causing them to trip. The veil came off and, dumbfounded, I scratched my head briefly.
It was Elvis Presley standing there, staring at me!
“That man died decades ago… so how could he be right before my eyes?” I wondered.
Immediately, I smelt rubber and understood what had transpired. Without thinking twice, I yanked at his face. He resisted, but due to my dogged persistence, he had nowhere to run.
After relentless effort, I managed to pull the mask off and before me stood the manager of the bank. My jaw dropped.
My school teachers and students, along with the security, had gathered as I had caused quite a commotion. The manager was arrested on the spot and after a few inquiries, the police informed our school that he had been after the ancient relics. He had calculated their approximate worth ever since he assumed office. The value ran into the billions, and he was planning to steal it all under the guise of being manager.
The security forces and museum staff thanked me, and my school was notified that the executive board, as well as I, had been invited to the capital for a state dinner celebrating this remarkable achievement. I was to be awarded a medal and recognised as a national hero.
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
“Guys, wait for me!” I called to my friends as I was packing my bag.
They didn’t seem to want to wait and just kept walking. I caught up with them, but they looked pretty miffed about me buzzing around them. They finally heaved a sigh of relief when I headed towards another door, as we went through different gates, me to the van area and they to the car parking.
We were a group of five, that perfect gang that was fit to be on a drama cast. We had the innocent Mishal, the sassy Bismah, the fashionista Rumaissa, the quiet Aliza and, of course, the high scorer (I’m only admitting this for a good intro), me. We had been together since day one of this year. But now, they were ignoring me.
Okay, so a little fact about me: I’ve always been ready to please people, ready to adjust. I make friends with everyone, though I kind of prefer if they are a bit like me.
Being totally unaware of why I was being ignored, I started guessing the reason. Obviously, I thought it was because I always wore desi clothes while hoodies and T-shirts made up most of their wardrobe. I assumed it was because I was a bit behind on trends. So, determined to change things back to normal, I decided to show that I was hurt.
I started getting quieter in class, more distant. I don’t know how I actually looked, but I might have done a great job; my classmates were asking what was wrong. But my friends weren’t. They were too busy in their own lives. All except Bismah, though. She always made me feel like I mattered.
It was just an ordinary science class when the teacher asked us to divide into groups of four for a project. The marks would be added to the final exams, so, for once, our class was taking it seriously.
“Hey, let’s do it together,” Bismah whispered. I nodded fervently. “Though we need two more members…” she trailed off.
“You can ask Mishal and Aliza,” I offered. I seriously thought that would do the trick. And it did.
We worked hard for a week, our WhatsApp chats flooded with ideas and documents. We actually got a pretty good grade, and I thought everything was back to normal, that we were travelling back to Friendshipville.
But the second we walked out of the classroom, they forgot I was there. Only Bismah stayed by my side. It was tempting to wave my arms and say, “Hello? You guys know I exist or was I only real for doing hard work so you could get a good grade?!”
But I didn’t say anything. I never do. I was officially replaced in my gang by Zunaira, Amira and Hannah. I just went into a loop of endless confusion and sprained trust.
It was just luck that one day, when our teacher shuffled our seats, I got a seat next to Zara, Maryam and Friha.
Zara was the cricket expert, like seriously, The Cricket Expert. She could hit ten sixes in a row and won us every match against other classes. Maryam was the music fan, the one who is a bit annoying and sarcastic, but a very good friend. Friha was the class buddy, always checking in with everyone and providing emotional support.
They had always supported me. Once, I was hesitant about talking about a particular thing because I thought people would think I was weird or cringe. Maryam and Friha had towered above me (even though I’m taller than both of them).
“Seriously, Fatimah, stop worrying who will think what,” Maryam said.
“Life’s too short to worry. What has to happen, has to happen,” Friha added, grinning.
Zara, as usual, was ready to distract my mind with a cricket bat in her hand.
They always stayed by me, never letting me feel alone in a crowd. They always made sure they had an endless supply of humour and comebacks for me. I was very hesitant about playing sports, but one day after a random game of throwball with them, I got so much encouragement.
“You should play a whole lot more, maybe even consider entering school matches,” Zara had said.
“Maybe… I don’t know. I just like playing with you guys. Thanks, though,” I had replied, grinning.
I always felt scared about setting boundaries with other people. But my new friends had already asked to set some rules. They made sure I wasn’t hiding anything that was bothering me.
I tried my best to be there for them as well. I remember that during the class party, Maryam had been freaking out because a girl in another class had worn the exact same dress as her.
“Please, relax,” I had hissed while she muttered about being accused of copying. “She has a different print on hers. No one has time to notice.”
I still talked to my old group, smiled at them and stayed friendly, especially with Bismah, who I still text, because I hadn’t really left them. I had just let them be more complete without me, more perfect without me. And honestly, I agree. They seem better off without me.
Sometimes there are places where you fit, but there are places where you fit even better. Sometimes it’s hard to let go, but sometimes, you have to.
I did, and now, when I see Mishal, Rumaissa, Bismah, Aliza, Zunaira, Amira and Hannah goofing around, I realise I not only found new friends, but I also let them be themselves more freely without me there, accidentally ruining their vibe.
I get it, it’s hard. But once you do it, chances are you’ll cherish your decision.
Stop running after people, stop depending on them.
See the people who trust you, who make you feel you have a place in their hearts.
Because they, I must say, might be the ones who are truly yours.
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
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