Elephant wins case in Islamabad High Court

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday in a landmark judgment ordered shifting of the lonely elephant Kaavan of the Marghazar Zoo Islamabad, who lives in a deplorable condition, to a secure shelter.

The court also ordered to move all animals of Marghazar Zoo to safe shelters within 60 days.

The plight of Kaavan, a depressed elephant who had spent nearly three decades being confined to a small cage in Islamabad Zoo, has been often highlighted by national, international media and animals rights associations and this time the Islamabad High Court gave its orders in the favour of the elephant.

It is pertinent to note that Kaavan was brought to Islamabad Zoo from Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s, and spent remaining time in more loneliness even more when his long-time companion female elephant Saheli died in 2012.

Zookeepers told the media that the elephant became depressed after the death of his companion.

According to the court decision, the Wildlife Board should also contact the Sri Lankan High Commission regarding Kaavan Elephant and move Kaavan to a shelter in the country or abroad wherever possible.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah in its detailed 67-page decision said that Islamabad Zoo lacked basic necessities and facilities, and the Marghazar Zoo was constantly violating the rules.

IHC CJ said that Kaavan has endured three decades of suffering at the Marghazar Zoo and now the elephant should be moved to a safe shelter within 30 days.

The decision said that the Islamabad Zoo did not have basic necessities and facilities while the Marghazar Zoo was constantly violating the rules. The cows should be moved to shelters within 30 days and all other animals within 60 days.

Islamabad Zoo animals also faced suffering due as the Ministry of Climate Change and the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCII) muscle their arms to control of the zoo.