The Lahore High Court has permanently blocked the transfer of CITES-listed, endangered Brazilian monkeys to the Lahore Zoo, ruling that the animals must not be kept in a non-species-specific environment.
The case, Altamush Saeed v. Government of Punjab, filed by Environmental and Animal Rights Consultants Pakistan was filed on 24 June 2025 and initially resulted in a stay order to prevent the transfer.
On 16 September, after hearing detailed arguments, Justice Khalid Ishaq issued a final order upholding the stay, with Mocc supporting that monkeys shouldn’t be moved to Lahore zoo and directing that the welfare of the monkeys must be prioritized.
The decision follows a report by WWF Pakistan recommending a plan of action that includes relocation of the surviving monkeys to a species-appropriate sanctuary and even exploring their repatriation to their native ecosystem in Brazil.
“These are rainforest monkeys, completely unsuited to Pakistan’s climate and zoo conditions,” said petitioner and advocate Altamush Saeed.
“With half of the original 26 already dead — not through negligence, but simply because Pakistan does not have rainforests — the Court’s judgment is a vital step toward ensuring the survivors have a chance at life,” he added.
The case is a watershed moment for wildlife law in Pakistan, reaffirming:
“This is not just about monkeys — it is about the kind of society we want to be,” Saeed said. “It sends a message that our courts will intervene to protect voiceless, endangered species from cruelty and neglect.”
This judgment is expected to strengthen the country’s legal framework against wildlife trafficking, encourage better enforcement of species-specific care standards, and serve as a precedent for future cases involving endangered and trafficked animals.
The next date of the Hearing is in November 2025.