• KMC says Karachi Zoo, Safari Park, Landhi-Korangi Zoo have only one vet
• Bench annoyed over non-functional X-ray machines, other equipment
KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on Thursday informed the Sindh High Court that nearly 50 per cent of the sanctioned posts in its three city zoos — Karachi Zoological Garden, Safari Park and Landhi-Korangi Zoo — were vacant due to a ban on recruitment.
In a report submitted before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro, the KMC stated that there were 233 sanctioned posts in the three recreational facilities, which are the backbone of zoo management and daily animal care operations, but 116 of them, including of vets, are currently vacant.
It submitted that the latest ban on recruitment was imposed through an order issued in June last year by the additional chief secretary, local government department, but it had been making continuous efforts to fill the vacant posts.
In compliance with the SHC’s earlier order regarding relocation of zoo bear Rano, the senior director-zoo filed a report and stated that the bear had been shifted to a sanctuary in the federal capital and all possible efforts were being made for the welfare of animals housed under the care of the KMC.
The director stated that the recreation department of KMC is consisted of Karachi Zoo, Safari Park and Landhi-Korangi Zoo responsible for the conservation and management of wildlife including.
The report said that as per the establishment set-up formed nearly six decades ago, the recreation department has three sanctioned positions for veterinarians — two for Karachi Zoo and one for Safari Park. However, only one vet, an assistant director, was currently working as two other posts were vacant.
The report maintained that not only the post of veterinarian but also other key operational positions such as head zookeeper, assistant head zookeeper, zookeepers and mahawat remained vacant.
It said that these positions formed the backbone of the zoo management and daily animal care operations.
It said that as per Council Resolution No. 675 dated Feb 24, 1997, a panel of veterinary consultants was created to assist and help the council’s vet and institutions in case of emergency and at present, three senior most veterinarians were on the panel as consultant.
It said Austria-based animal welfare and rescue group Four Paws has also been the primary consultant for the elephants since 2021 in line with the earlier orders of the SHC.
The report stated that the KMC had also constituted a technical committee headed by Dr R.C. Rajapaksa, director general National Zoological Department, Sri Lanka, as chairman and co-chaired by Dr Amir Khalil, director Four Paws.
The report said in January Dr Khalil personally examined Rano and confirmed that the female bear was a Syrian species, characterised by a whitish claw, distinguishing it from all other bear subspecies worldwide.
“Keeping in view the assessment and confirmation by international experts who have extensive experience working with bears globally, it is surprising how certain local NGOs are claiming that the bear in question is a Himalayan species,” the KMC official wondered.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Jibran Nasir claimed that beside shortage of staff, the X-ray machines and operation theatres were also out of order.
The bench came down hard on the authorities over alleged mismanagement and directed them to fix the X-ray machines and other equipment.
The bench also remarked that the zoos should be converted into national parks.
It warned that if these issues were not addressed, the same would be referred to the National Accountability Bureau for investigations.
The bench adjourned the hearing for two weeks and directed a committee formed by the chief minister on court orders to file its progress report on the next date.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2025
