In a significant development for Wildlife Welfare, Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a residence order that stopped the proposed transfer of endangered Brazilian rainforest monkeys from Karachi to the Lahore Zoo.
The court’s decision provides temporary protection for the rare species currently under care of the Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation (ACF) Animal Rescue, an animal welfare organization based in Karachi.
According to a report dated May 6, 2025 by the Ministry of Climate Change involved the moving plan that changed the monkeys to the Lahore Zoo. However, this step triggered a broad concern among environmentalists, animal rights organizations and civil society activists who warned of potential threats to monkey’s well -being.
The petition was filed by Altamush Saeed and Ahmad Shoaib Atta, which is affiliated with Environment and Animal Rights Attorney (Earc). In their submission, the petries claimed that the current conditions of the Lahore Zoo are completely unsuitable for housing so rare and sensitive primates.
The quoted high mortality rate among animals, extreme temperatures, substandard veterinary facilities and inadequate infrastructure – Groups also validated by national and international bodies, including WWF Pakistan.
The petries also maintained that the monkeys would be safest in their original habitats – the Brazilian rainforest – and that no facility in Pakistan can repeat the ecological conditions needed for their survival.
They have called on international wildlife organizations to intervene and facilitate the reputation of the monkeys to their natural habitats.
The court has issued messages to the relevant government departments and sought a formal answer. The case has been exposed to further consultation in September 2025.
