Sudan’s In‑House Menagerie: Karachi’s Biggest Beast‑Bunch
In the sweltering heart of Karachi, 29‑year‑old industrialist Bilal Mansoor Khawaja showcases his prized collection—an ivory‑coated white lion he proudly pats while tourists milling in the streets. “These are the rarest beasts I own,” he bragged, letting the lion’s leash twitch in his palm.
Why the Wild, Wild West Is Free‑For‑All in Pakistan
Exotic animals fly through Pakistani customs with little paperwork, but once inside, the rules practically vanish. That loophole has turned the city into a sprawling zoological preserve, teeming with over 4,000 animals—including some 300 lions alone—hidden in rooftop cages, back‑yard gardens, and humble farms.
From SUVs to The Great Escape
Social media is bursting with clips of affluent locals driving their roaring companions in luxury SUVs, while news headlines wildly shout about cops pulling out big‑cat owners who attempt to give their guardians a leisurely street‑cruise.
The Big Cats: A Status Symbol Gone Wild
- Big cats are viewed as ultimate power symbols.
- More than 300 lions roam Karachi’s 20 million square‑meter jungle.
- King‑size murals of lion “royalty” in front of affluent residences are a common sight.
Mr. Khawaja’s “Crown Jewels”
He proudly calls his handful of lions and a tiger the “crown jewels” of a larger trove he’s built over the past year. Every roar and whisker packs a story of status—yet it also teeters on a legal gray area that’s frustrating wildlife advocates across the nation.
Whether you’re a lover of the wild or a cautious critic, Karachi’s runaway zoo invites conversation about what it means to keep the poached and Moroccan‑styled elite’s charm in their own backyard.
Social media is littered with videos of wealthy Karachiites cruising with lions sitting in the front seats of luxury SUVs. PHOTO: AFP
He insists his collection – made up of some 800 different species – is not about status or prestige but simply a manifestation of his love for pets.
“We Pakistanis have a problem: where our heart is soft, it’s very soft. Where it’s hard, it’s very hard,” he gushes.
To care for his flock, he has more than 30 people working in shifts and four vets on staff.
The entire operation costs a fortune, Mr Khawaja admits, although he refuses to provide an estimate of just how much he shelled out for his personal zoo.
But the cost and the series of minor injuries he has accrued over the years at the hands of his prized pets are well worth it, he claims.
“With every injury my love for these animals… grows more,” he smiles.
His nine-acre property where a portion of his animals, including zebras, flamingos, and horses, reside is smack in the middle of a dense neighbourhood in the megacity.
LION FARMING
Exotic animal dealer Aleem Paracha, who claims to be one of the top three importers of exotic animals in Karachi, says that for 1.4 million rupees (S$11,804) he can deliver a white lion to a client in up to 48 hours – and do so entirely legally.
Certificates from the countries of origin along with permits from authorities are provided for any animal brought into Pakistan in accordance with an international treaty to protect endangered species.
But Mr Paracha says there is also a network of breeders across Pakistan that can also provide lions at a moment’s notice, including at least 30 in Karachi.
“In Karachi, lion farming is going very well,” he explains.
And while indigenous species are fiercely protected in Pakistan, the same protections are not extended to imported animals.
The government has guidelines regarding the treatment and type of enclosures big cats and other exotic species should be provided with.
But “the law is silent” on breeding, explains Mr Javed Mahar, head of Sindh province’s wildlife department.
Ms Uzma Khan, a technical advisor with the World Wildlife Fund, says there is not even an authority monitoring government-run zoos, which are notorious for neglect, let alone the private sector.
“There’s lots of private breeders and they are very shady,” Ms Khan adds.
‘THE LAW IS SILENT’
Meanwhile, owners like Mr Khawaja may have the means and passion to provide the hearty diet for their animals, but others have been known to fall short.
Karachi veterinarian Isma Gheewala says lions suffering from calcium deficiencies are common at her clinic, where she says she has treated between 100 to 150 big cats over the years.
“The bones become extremely brittle,” she explains.
“And even if they jump like a foot down, they will injure some bone or the other and then it takes a long time for the animals to recover.”
But both Mr Paracha and Mr Khawaja dismiss claims they are doing anything harmful by taking exotic species out of their natural habit and raising them in Pakistan.
“A lot of animals, either they’re extinct or they’re on the edge of being extinct,” argues Mr Khawaja, adding: “I don’t want the next generations to not see these animals.”
But conservationists like Ms Khan at the WWF dismiss such arguments.
She explains: “An animal in captivity is not the way it is in the wild. What’s the point of having an animal which is not hunting, which is in a cage not showing its natural behaviour?”
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