KARACHI: Taking action on the complaint of a citizen on social media and directives of Deputy Commissioner South Irshad Ali Sodhar, Assistant Commissioner Saddar Sherina Asad along with a team of Sindh Wildlife Department raided Empress Market and confiscated four baby monkeys which were being kept in cages in bad condition.

The confiscated baby monkeys were initially shifted to the wildlife department and latter handed over to an animal rescue non-profit organization ACF (Ayesha Chundrigarh Foundation).

The assistant commissioner relayed that the monkeys were currently being held at the ACF until they were medically examined, rehabilitated and settled in a place closest to their natural surroundings.

She said, “It is illegal to keep monkeys in cages as per Sindh Wildlife laws and only license holders could keep monkeys in private zoo.”

Sherina Asad stated that the dealers who had licenses in the Empress Market had given undertaking that they would not keep mammals, however, confiscated baby monkeys were being kept in cages in bad condition.

Meanwhile, the ACF confirmed that they had received four monkeys handed over by Assistant Commissioner Saddar Sherina Asad and Wildlife Chief Conservator Javed Mahar. “The check up and vaccination of monkeys have been completed by Dr. Isma and further guidance is being sought,” said the ACF.

“We have a plan to rehabilitate the monkeys and send them to up to north or closer to their natural habitat,” it said.