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Agence France-Presse

A baby monkey caused chaos in a Pakistan court after escaping from a troop presented as evidence in a case of wildlife smuggling, officials said.
Two men were intercepted outside Karachi on Thursday trying to smuggle 14 baby monkeys in crates usually used to transport mangoes.
But when they were brought to court on Friday, one of the monkeys escaped – causing chaos as staff tried to tempt it down from a tree.
“The monkeys were kept in the boxes in a bad condition … they could hardly breathe,” said Javed Mahar, chief of Sindh Wildlife Department.

The trade or keeping of wild animals is illegal in Pakistan, but laws are routinely ignored and there is a lively market in exotic pets.
Monkeys are frequently kept by street entertainers to attract customers, and in some cases have been trained by criminals to enter houses to steal.
The smugglers were each fined 100,000 rupees (US$350) on Friday and the court ordered the monkeys to be handed over to Karachi Zoo – a step immediately criticised by wildlife officials.
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“The monkeys should have been returned to their natural habitat from where they were captured,” Mahar said.
Pakistan’s zoos are notorious for their poor facilities and activists accuse them of disregarding animal welfare.
In 2020, a court ordered the only zoo in the country’s capital to close because of its decrepit state.


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Pakistan

Monkey nuts: chaos in Pakistan court as baby primate escapes during smuggling case

One of the rescued newborn monkeys found during a search of a bus in Karachi. Photo: EPA-EFE

A Pakistani zoo caretaker with two of the newborn monkeys after officials found them being smuggled in crates. Photo: EPA-EFE

Monkey business: Cash-strapped Sri Lanka mulls sale of some 100,000 endangered macaques to China

Toque macaques are officially estimated to number between two million and three million in Sri Lanka. Photo: Shutterstock

Monkey miracle: Japan zoo unravels mystery of unexpected ape’s ‘virgin birth’

Momo’s child. DNA testing showed the father was a male gibbon who was held in a separate enclosure. Photo: Instagram / @morikirara

White-handed gibbons are native to Southeast Asia and are mostly monogamous, with breeding adult couples typically forming bonds that last for life. Photo: Getty Images

Illegal wildlife trade on rampage? As Hong Kong border opens, mainland Chinese pet shops offer to smuggle rare animals into city

A crocodile caught in the city was thought to have been smuggled in as a pet and abandoned or escaped. Photo: Handout

The Siamese crocodile captured in the New Territories is examined at Ocean Park. Photo: Ocean Park

Tortoises at a pet shop in Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

A type of poison dart frog. The animal is popular among exotic pet owners for its vibrant colours. Photo: Shutterstock 

A tank exhibit at an exotic pet shop in Mong Kok. Photo: Jelly Tse

Mainland pet shops also offer exotic animals such as the tiny sugar gliders. Photo: AP

Sam Inglis, wildlife programme manager at environmental group ADM Capital Foundation. Photo: Jelly Tse

Cambodia wildlife official faces 145 years in jail for smuggling long-tailed macaques to US

Long-tailed macaques are protected under international trade law and special permits are required to import the animals into the US. File photo: AFP

Singapore jails man for smuggling puppies, kittens from Malaysia after 19 die

Sedated puppies and a kitten found hidden under the rear passenger seat and packed into the spare tyre compartment of a vehicle at Tuas Checkpoint. Photo: NParks

Officials found 26 puppies and a cat packed into plastic containers in a Malaysia-registered lorry when it was stopped at Tuas Checkpoint in October last year. Photo: NParks

A shipment of 337 birds packed into plastic boxes that were hidden behind a driver’s seat was found at the Tuas Checkpoint in late March. Photo: NParks

A raid of several residential units across Singapore uncovered green iguanas among more than 50 wildlife species being advertised for sale on messaging app Telegram. Photo: NParks

News

Asia

South Asia

The animal, which was being presented as evidence, escaped from its handler and caused mayhem as court staff tried to tempt it down from a tree
Two men were arrested after trying to smuggle 14 baby monkeys in crates usually used to transport mangoes: ‘they could hardly breathe’


The animal, which was being presented as evidence, escaped from its handler and caused mayhem as court staff tried to tempt it down from a tree.


Crime

Animals