THINGS got about as wild as they can get in Islamabad’s DHA Phase II on Friday, when a leopard kept as a pet by a known ‘unknown citizen’ escaped captivity and went on the lam, keeping the entire neighbourhood, as well as a fascinated nation, occupied for a good six hours as frantic wildlife workers scrambled to remove it to safety. The magnificent beast — considerably agitated by his ordeal — was finally tranquillised at around 10pm, but not before it had injured three individuals. It has since been removed to a sanctuary housed in the federal capital’s now-shuttered Marghazar Zoo. Named ‘Deeaitchay’ by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board staff, a tongue-in-cheek reference to the neighbourhood where it was found, it is reported to be in good health.

The episode has once again shone a spotlight on the practice of keeping wild animals as exotic pets, instances of which keep coming to light. In 2020, the Sindh Wildlife Department had to step in after reports that a pair of giraffes was being kept in a residence in Karachi’s DHA. Nowadays, one can also frequently find videos on social media of lions being kept as some kind of status symbol by Pakistani citizens. The fact is that while these creatures may be a source of fascination and provide some form of joy to their keepers, they remain dangerous and may revert to their animal instincts at any time. Besides, it is incredibly cruel to keep a creature meant to roam the wild confined in a small cage which is likely to stunt its physiological development. Animals have also been known to grow depressed in captivity. Therefore, it ought to be unthinkable for anyone to put them through such an ordeal for their personal pleasure. While implementing the various laws regulating the ownership of animals is important, it seems equally necessary to educate the citizenry in this regard.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2023