LHC Orders Crackdown on Private Zoos and Circuses Caging Animals in Scorching Heat

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a decisive order against the private captivity of wild animals in roadside zoos and circuses. The ruling comes as Lahore endures record-breaking heat, with temperatures soaring to a blistering 49.5°C, intensifying concerns over the suffering of animals confined in inadequate conditions.

Presided over by Senior Honorable Judge Abid Aziz Sheikh, the court’s order was delivered in the case of Eiraj Hassan v. Government of Punjab, a petition spearheaded by Altamush Saeed and his team at Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan—the nation’s pioneering animal and environmental law firm.

The petition spotlighted the plight of lions, leopards, bears, and other wild animals held in cramped, barren cages in facilities such as Lake City’s roadside zoo, where the creatures are deprived of their natural behaviors, dignity, and basic care.

Drawing on legal precedents, including the influential 2020 judgment banning the culling of Black Bucks, the court recognized the grave violations of the Punjab Wildlife Protection Act and the ethical imperative to treat wild animals as sentient beings. The order directs all relevant authorities to conduct site assessments of the implicated facilities and report back to the court.

The petitioners are seeking a constitutional ban on the private captivity of wild animals in roadside zoos and circuses, as well as the relocation of these animals to reputable sanctuaries where they can receive proper care and live in environments suited to their species.

Animal welfare advocates have hailed the court’s decision as a ray of hope for Lahore’s voiceless wild animals. As the legal battle continues, this ruling stands as a beacon for animal rights in Pakistan, offering a glimmer of justice for those who cannot speak for themselves.