Two bears named Suzie and Babloo that spent their entire lives in trauma, will now finally be shifted to Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife--a sanctuary in Jerash, Jordan, which is run by Princess Alia Foundation and Four Paws, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Attar Minallah while hearing a contempt of case, on the relocation of the two bears named Suzie and Babloo, remarked that the impression is being given that the court has a special interest in this case.

“The only interest of the court is the welfare of animals. Who is responsible for the suffering of these animals for a year and a half as a zoo is a reflection of our 70 years of governance and attitudes,” IHC CJ remarked.

https://twitter.com/IsbZooFriends/status/1338406553905455105

Wildlife Board informed that both bears will now be shifted to Jorden on December 17.

Friends of Islamabad Zoo, a citizen-led initiative for wildlife conservation, said, “We are overjoyed and beyond relieved. #Suzie and #Bubloo are going to Al Mawa Jordan. Thanks to the tireless efforts of animal activists, correct decisions by Pakistan Climate Change Ministry, Wildlife Board, the tireless advocacy of Owais Awan and the brilliant judgements of CJ Athar MinAllah.”

Dr Amir Khalil, an animal expert in charge of animal transfer from Islamabad Zoo, said that the zoo's bears will be shifted to Jordan Sanctuary on December 17.

The zoo is being closed as per instructions and the IHC decision encouraged his team to continue working for the welfare of the animals.

It is pertinent to note that everything was planned and organised for the transfer of both bears, but then an announcement made at the very last moment that the ministry of climate change cancelled the export permit of the bears to leave the country for unknown reasons.

Earlier, after a detailed discussion, the authorities have decided that both the bears will be relocated from Islamabad Zoo to Ayub Park Rawalpindi. The transfer of both the bears has been scheduled days after Kaavan the elephant was sent to Cambodia and now living a good life there.

On the other hand, Friends of Islamabad Zoo in a tweet criticized the decision, “Both bears were first used as dancing bears, with their teeth pulled out. They cannot hunt, they cannot compete with other bears, and cannot be "sent to Deosai" as so many have suggested.”