KARACHI: The provincial wildlife department has strongly opposed a proposal of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) to relocate the exotic monkeys — confiscated by customs authorities a few months ago in Karachi — to Lahore and has accorded them “protected status,” it emerged on Tuesday.

Sources said the exotic species, currently 13 in number, would continue to live at the ACF Animal Rescue centre until the decision of a customs court hearing the case.

In January, an illegal consignment of 26 tufted capuchins and marmosets brought from South Africa was confiscated by the customs authorities at the Jinnah International Airport. The officials handed over 24 monkeys to the ACF centre in February after two of the animals died at the airport.

Sources said that the federal ministry had sent a letter to the customs authorities in Karachi and other concerned officials — including the Sindh chief secretary, Sindh wildlife conservator and Punjab wildlife director general — proposing the relocation of the exotic species to Lahore.

Climate change ministry official claims Lahore zoo is suitable for monkeys seized by customs in January

In response to the proposal, the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD), while questioning the handling of the case by the ministry, said in a letter that the “subject matter requires to be addressed in a fair, impartial and legally sound manner” because the instant case is being tried in Karachi.

The May 15 letter by the Sindh wildlife conservator questions why the ministry didn’t call a meeting of its committee — set up to visit animal facilities in Karachi and Lahore — and instead acted hastily by releasing a letter proposing the relocation of the monkeys to Lahore.

“The findings of the committee were required to be discussed at the same larger forum. It is pointed out that, without sharing progress of the notified committee at the forum, the hasty recommendations contrary to the visit report of Sindh Wildlife Department and WWF-Pakistan, Karachi, have been circulated vide letter No 6-3/2018-CC Islamabad dated May 8, 2025.”

“It is respectfully submitted that the contents of the above referred circulation cannot be subscribed on merit, and dictum of law, that, extraneous considerations is neither sustainable in the eyes of law, nor protected by applicable statutory framework and above all, no copy of the correspondence has been circulated to the Honourable Trial Court for information,” the letter says.

According to the letter, the department has also has invoked Section 21 (2) of Sindh Wildlife Protection Act 2020, which says, “All wildlife of Sindh provinces shall enjoy the protection under this act; wildlife of other territory whenever found or brought in the province of Sindh by trans-boundary migration or by human act shall also enjoy the protection under this Act, as provided under Fourth Schedule.”

The letter also points out that the department has been following the case since the species’ seizure and that officials are awaiting the court’s decision.

Sindh rules out relocation

Sources said that the wildlife department’s stern response came after the federal ministry ignored the opinion of its notified committee and proposed the relocation of the exotic species to Lahore.

The sources said the committee was notified by the ministry after the chief secretary convened a high-level meeting in April. It was attended by representatives of the MoCC, Pakistan Customs, SWD, WWF-Pakistan and other stakeholders.

“As an outcome of the meeting, a technical committee was constituted by the by federal secretary MoCC to assess the situation and propose recommendations grounded in legality, science, and animal welfare,” a wildlife official told Dawn.

The committee members comprised the Sindh wildlife conservator and an official representing WWF-Pakistan (both tasked with visiting the ACF facility and submitting a report), the Director of Veterinary Care, Wildlife and Parks Department, Punjab, and the Deputy Director Wildlife, IWMB. The latter two officials were required to visit the Lahore facilities.

The sources said the joint report submitted by the SWD and WWF-Pakistan (Karachi) after visiting the ACF facility clearly ruled out relocation on legal and animal welfare grounds.

The experts, in their report submitted this month to the ministry, stated that out of the 24 animals handed over to the ACF facility, eight capuchins and five marmosets remained alive. The mortalities, they said, occurred due to initial shock and the animals have now adjusted to their new environment.

“The administration of ACF demonstrated a clear commitment to animal welfare. Importantly, they have been providing care and support for the confiscated animals without charging any fees to the Pakistan Customs or the offenders who are responsible for the illegal import,” the joint report says.

Ministry official defends proposal

Speaking to Dawn, Muhammad Samar Hussain Khan, conservator wildlife, MoCC, explained that the committee’s purpose was only to provide technical inputs and make recommendations.

Regarding his letter proposing the monkeys’ relocation to Lahore, he said the “committee” found the Lahore zoo suitable.

When asked about bypassing the two members from Sindh, he said: “Two or three people is not an issue. The matter is in court. It will decide.”

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025