A Himalayan female brown bear took her first steps into a new enclosure in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad on Wednesday (November 5), following a court order to have her relocated from Karachi Zoo after a welfare petition, wildlife officials said.

Held in the zoo since 2017, the welfare petition documented distress, behavioral trauma and injuries linked to 24-year-old Rano’s captivity in an unsuitable tropical enclosure, according to local media reports.

Rano’s move to Margalla Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Islamabad marked the first stage of her relocation to a sanctuary in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, where the environment more closely resembles her native mountain habitat, Conservator of Wildlife Department in Government of Sindh, Javed Mahar, said.

Rano’s relocation to the capital city was led by a specialised team from the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and with assistance from the Pakistan Army who flew her in a C-130 aircraft, IWMB spokesperson Umar Bilal said.

Following a 21-day quarantine, Rano would subsequently be moved to a larger enclosure at the rehabilitation center while awaiting further instructions on her final move to the north, said IWMB Director Sakhawat Ali.

While the court order aimed for Rano's eventual release within the Gilgit-Baltistan region, officials clarified she would not be fully returned to the wild.

Having spent much of her life in captivity, Rano would instead live in a protected enclosure in the region, Mahar said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF HIMALAYAN BROWN BEAR, RANO, WALKING IN QUARANTINE ENCLOSURE AFTER ARRIVING IN ISLAMABAD

2. VARIOUS OF RANO STANDING BEHIND FENCE AND LOOKING OUT OF ENCLOSURE

3. RANO WALKING AWAY

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

4. EXTERIOR OF SINDH WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT BUILDING

5. CONSERVATOR OF WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF SINDH, JAVED MAHAR, SEATED IN HIS OFFICE

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CONSERVATOR OF WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF SINDH, JAVED MAHAR, SAYING:

“As per available information and records in Sindh Wildlife Department, the brown bear (Rano) joined Karachi Zoo in 2017. Unconfirmed reports suggest it was previously in private captivity and transferred to the zoo via an animal exchange program.”

7. MAHAR SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CONSERVATOR OF WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF SINDH, JAVED MAHAR, SAYING:

"The brown bear, a species from a colder climate, was struggling in Karachi's tropical heat. The adverse effects of the weather were constantly visible. Additionally, visitors frequently expressed concern over the bear's apparent loneliness and well-being. Prompted by these ongoing concerns, a Karachi resident has filed a court petition regarding its welfare."

9. MAHAR SPEAKING DURING INTERVIEW

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CONSERVATOR OF WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF SINDH, JAVED MAHAR, SAYING:

“The court had passed orders to shift it to Islamabad. The climatic conditions of Islamabad are no less different from those of Karachi. So, when the Government of Sindh analysed the court's directions on this matter, the Government of Sindh proposed that it be sent to the proper temperate zone, that is, to the northern regions of the country.”

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (IWMB HANDOUT - Access all)

11. VEHICLE CARRYING BOX CONTAINING RANO MOVING ON ROAD

12. ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMD) STAFF THROWING FLOWER PETALS TO WELCOME RANO AS VEHICLE ARRIVES AT ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT FACILITY

13. RANO EMERGING FROM BOX INTO HER QUARANTINE ENCLOSURE AT ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) CONSERVATOR OF WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT IN GOVERNMENT OF SINDH, JAVED MAHAR, SAYING:

“This fundraising in Pakistan is for Rano's enclosure in the north. Since she can't live in the wild, having spent half her life in an enclosure, she'll be moved to the north. The climate's better for her there - native winds, cool temperatures, and familiar soil. She'll be in an enclosure, though - not released into the wild.”

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

15. SIGN OUTSIDE RANO'S ENCLOSURE READING (English): "WELCOME RANO TO IWMB” / RANO WALKING IN HER ENCLOSURE

16. PLATE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR RANO

17. VARIOUS OF ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMB) TEAM STAFF DISCUSSING RANO

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SPOKESPERSON OF ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMB), UMAR BILAL, SAYING:

"Our three-member team led the process, and they spent 13 days in Karachi. The veterinarians were also in continuous contact with our team. After that, when the veterinarians declared that now she is fit to fly, she is fit to move, then we moved it from there."

19. SLEEVE INSIGNIA SHOWING PAKISTAN’S FLAG AND IWMB LOGO

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SPOKESPERSON OF ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMB), UMAR BILAL, SAYING:

"And in this entire 13-day process, its behaviour and condition were monitored, its feed was also monitored, it was medically examined. And for this move, a special transport enclosure was made there, this (quarantine) enclosure is ready here. A proper enclosure, a box was built for the journey."

21. RANO LOOKING OUT FROM NEW ENCLOSURE

22. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SPOKESPERSON OF ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMB), UMAR BILAL, SAYING:

"Using the box, the C-130 (aircraft) transported it (Rano). With the Sindh government's cooperation, and using the C-130, it was flown and brought here to Margalla Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, safe and sound."

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

23. VARIOUS OF IWMB STAFF AND LOCAL MEDIA STANDING OUTSIDE RANO’S ENCLOSURE

24. RANO IN QUARANTINE ENCLOSURE

25. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) DIRECTOR OF ISLAMABAD WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT BOARD (IWMB), SAKHAWAT ALI, SAYING:

“Rano will undergo a 21-day quarantine, after which she'll be released into a large enclosure. Then, when directions come to send her to Gilgit, she'll be crate trained and relocated accordingly.”

26. SIGN READING (English): "QUARANTINE AREA"

27. RANO SLEEPING IN ENCLOSURE