KARACHI: Rano completed her journey to freedom on Wednesday, when she was moved out from the barren environment of the Karachi zoo — ending her captivity of almost a decade — and shifted to a bear rehabilitation centre in Islamabad in a swift and smooth operation that brought together experts representing the provincial wildlife department, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Pakistan Air Force.

The mission was undertaken on the orders of the Sindh High Court, which recently took notice of Rano’s plight in captivity on a petition and ordered her immediate relocation to the IWMB’s bear rehab.

Sources said the operation for Rano’s relocation started late last night when the wildlife team reached the Karachi zoo and found Rano “very cooperative”.

The team decided not to sedate Rano, considering it too risky, and keep her engaged during the journey by feeding her.

Team breathes a sigh of relief as Rano falls asleep mid-air

“As soon as we called her, she came out of her resting room, entered the transport crate and quickly started eating the food placed there,” a member of the IWMB team shared in a social media post.

Later, the sources said, the team — Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar, IWMB officials Sana Raja, Abbas and Anees, Dr Zulfiqar Haider and Dr Shalla Hayat representing the livestock department, Dr Amir Ismail and Abida Raees of Karachi zoo, wildlife official Mumtaz Soomro, committee members Mahera Omar and Yusra Askari — accompanied Rano to the PAF Faisal Base where a C-130 aircraft along with a designated staff was ready for take-off to Islamabad.

“As soon as the flight took off around 8.30am, Rano fell asleep and woke up only after landing, much to the relief of the entire team worried about her safety during the air travel,” said Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar, head of the committee set up by the government to ensure Rano’s safe relocation.

According to Mr Mahar, Rano is currently at the rehab’s quarantine facility where she will stay for a few days.

“Rano is expected to stay at the rehab for at least six months because snowfall has started in her natural range (Gilgit-Baltistan) and it’s not feasible to move her there right now,” he explained, while expressing confidence in the IWMB team’s professionalism in taking good care of Rano.

It might be recalled that the SHC has ordered the KMC to relocate brown bear Rano, a critically endangered species in zoo captivity since 2017, to a rehab managed by the IWMB within two days.

The SHC also ruled that the transfer of the female Himalayan bear must take place through air cargo under the supervision of a senior official of the wildlife department and directed the KMC to extend cooperation and ensure the shifting.

The orders came on a petition raising concern over Rano’s condition.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2025