KARACHI: The University of Karachi has notified a fact-finding committee to investigate the recently organised ‘pet show’ on the campus and submit a detailed report in this respect to the KU registrar within two weeks.

The action was taken as the show featured illegal display of several endangered wild animals, such as black spotted turtles, juvenile marsh crocodiles and eagles, all apparently caught from their habitat.

Earlier, KU’s physiology department had eagles and snakes on display at a ‘poultry exhibition’.

According to a notification, the show was privately organised at KU’s football ground on Feb 25 by chief organiser Shahrukh Akram, currently serving as a research associate at university’s Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation.

The show, it says, had some animals that didn’t fall in the category of pet and that their public display was illegal and their possession required a mandatory permit from the wildlife department.

The members of the committee are: Prof Faiyaz H.M.Vaid (convener), Prof Farah Iqbal (member) and Dr Syed Asim Ali (member).

The committee, the notification says, would investigate whether the wildlife brought to the event were in the knowledge of the chief organiser.

“[It would] investigate the authorisation/permit from the concerned authorities for keeping and bringing such wildlife to the show,” it says.

The committee would also inquire the organisers about “illegally using the university logo and name of the registrar for the event’.

Speaking to Dawn, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid M. Iraqi stated that the university had given permission for the private ‘pet show’.

“They represented themselves as part of an animal protection organisation and got permission from the student adviser’s office. But, there were not allowed to use the university logo or name of the registrar,” he said.

The VC said that the university would look into the physiology department’s poultry show as well.

It is important to mention here that display and handling of wildlife in the name of awareness by any private person is barred under the law.

The Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act, 2020 and the Sindh Wildlife Protection Rules 2022 prohibit possession of carnivores.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2023