KARACHI: The female bear Rano, whose cruel captivity has been in the spotlight for several years, is set to be transported from Karachi Zoo to Islamabad on Wednesday (today) through a C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force on the Sindh High Court’s orders.

Sources told Dawn Rano’s translocation would be the first-of-its-kind animal welfare operation in the country’s history. All preparations, including support from the Karachi’s traffic police to her travel from the zoo to PAF Faisal Base, her shifting from Nur Khan Airbase, Islamabad, to the bear rehab centre of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), and stay at the quarantine facility soon after her relocation, had been finalised.

In this respect, the sources said, a meeting of the committee tasked to ensure her safe relocation was held on Tuesday morning at the zoo where Rano’s fitness, travel arrangements as well as different aspects of animal welfare involved in the sensitive operation were reviewed in detail.

The travel plan, the sources said, was being implemented after Rano completed her 10-day long training sessions that provided ample opportunity to both her and trainers — Sana Raja, Abbas, Anees and Abid — to interact and establish a bond of trust and a kind of love.

Arrangements finalised to transport female brown bear to rehab centre in Islamabad onboard C-130

“We are confident that this bond is strong enough to keep Rano physically and mentally at peace during the 40-minute road and two-hour air travel from Karachi to Islamabad. The team will keep her engage by offering her favourite food in bits during the journey,” shared committee’s head and Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar.

Rano, he pointed out, won’t be sedated during the journey as this “could be risky”.

Click to see more

“Rano is quite comfortable with the team and the cage. In fact, she slept in the same cage last night. A two-vet team will also accompany her for backup support,” he said, adding that while the wildlife department had relocated over a dozen rescued bears by road, it’s the first time a bear was being relocated by air.

Mr Mahar spoke highly of the PAF for their immediate positive response to the request for Rano’s relocation. “I think it’s a great moment in the country’s history. I appreciate everyone who’s contributing for the cause of animal welfare.”

It’s important to mention here that the whole operation has a legal cover under Section 82 of the Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Act, 2020.

The clause provides protection to all actions and decisions (or even any adverse happening during the course of events) taken for animal welfare as they are “deemed to be actions done in good faith”.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025