JOINT action by the Sindh Wildlife Department and Rangers on Sunday that caught a consignment of at least 26 exotic birds near Karachi appears in sync with the government`s new policy shift to ban the export of local species of birds and the import of exotic mammals. The birds, which included the Alexandrine parakeet whose population in Pakistan has declined due to widespread hunting, illegal trade and rapid deforestation, were reportedly being transferred from Bahawalpur to Karachi for sale. According to the officials, the birds appeared to have been caught in the wild.

In recent years, the disturbing trend of keeping wild and exotic animals in private zoos and at homes in cages has become quite popular, especially in bigger cities such as Lahore and Karachi. The traders or breeders of such animals can earn millions of rupees from a single purchase. However, as animal rights activists rightly say, keeping these creatures in captivity for personal entertainment is an inhumane and archaic custom that needs to be abolished. The Islamabad High Court also made this point in its July 2020 order in the well-known case of Kaavan, the ailing elephant at the city zoo. The decision by the federal climate change ministry to ban the import of exotic mammals is thus a step in the right direction.

Moreover, the ministry reportedly will also not issue any more NOCs to private owners or for public zoos. The measure could lead to a gradual phasing out of public zoos in the country where deaths of captive animals are a frequent occurrence due to the abhorrent conditions in which they are kept. Taking animals out of their natural habitat and confining them to cages or private residences is against their natural rights as it affects their feeding and mating patterns and exposes them to intentional or unintentional abuse at the hands of their owners. The authorities should ensure strict implementation of the ban while also working to spread awareness about animal rights among the public.