ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday asked the secretary Ministry of Climate Change to file a report on the relocation of two Himalayan brown bears to a sanctuary in Jordan.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah was hearing a contempt of court case against the secretary and the chairman of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) for not implementing a judgment on relocation of the bears.

Secretary Climate Change Naheed Shah Durrani and IWMB Chairperson Z.B. Mirza appeared before the court in response to a show-cause notice issued to them under the contempt of court law.

The court ordered the secretary to apprise the court of the status of the implementation of the order.

IHC directives issued to ministry, IWMB yet to be implemented

The IHC had passed the judgment on May 21, 2020, and subsequently issued orders to the ministry and the IWMB on July 18, 30, Aug 3, Aug 13, Sept 25, Sept 28 and Nov 27. But they reportedly refused to relocate the two bears — Suzzee and Babloo — to the sanctuary in Jordan.

Justice Minallah remarked that the court had posed confidence in the climate change ministry and even handed over the administration of the zoo to it. However, what happened with the lion pair was unfortunate.

He said the court had passed an unprecedented order on animal rights which were being relied upon in jurisdiction of various countries.

The court had asked the relocation of the Himalayan bears to some hill station in a natural environment.

Justice Minallah expressed displeasure over the cancellation of the export permit issued to relocate the bears to Jordan and said prima facie the cancellation was decided without even examining the court order.

A counsel for the climate change ministry informed the court that since Jordan’s environment was not suitable for the bears, as an alternative the administration of Ayub National Park in Rawalpindi had suggested to transfer the bears to its zoo.

The IWMB chairman said since the bears had remained in the Islamabad zoo for quite a long period, it would not be good for their health if they were shifted to a cold area without making proper arrangements.

He said Egyptian veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil had accompanied him to a visit to Naltar and Nathiagali for shifting of the bears there.

Justice Minallah remarked that the court might be informed about this aspect in writing. He said the Jordan sanctuary was well equipped and if Pakistan improved standards of its sanctuaries the brown bears might be shifted back to the country.

The court asked the secretary climate change to submit a written reply and adjourned further hearing to Friday (today).

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2020