Elephant in Pakistan zoo dies, reviving concern over animal treatment

Noor Jehan, an elephant in Pakistan’s Karachi Zoo whose illness rekindled criticism of the country’s zoos, passed away on Saturday, according to officials, despite frantic attempts to save her.

This month, a very ill 17-year-old elephant fell into a pond and was unable to climb out on his own.

“After battling for nine days, she passed away from her serious condition. She lay on the ground for too long, endangering her life, according to Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization that had been counseling regional and worldwide veterinarians on her care.

It was “heartbreaking that she had to die at only 17 years of age, when she could have had many more years,” Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil said. Noor Jehan was an African elephant, and they live for 60 to 70 years on average.

Recent deaths include several white tiger cubs and two lions in Pakistan who asphyxiated while being pulled out of their den by handlers using smoke.

This month, the Karachi Zoo director was fired after reports of neglect. 2020 saw a court order that the Islamabad Zoo, where the elephant Kaavan was housed, be shut down.

After years of working to release Kaavan, the American star Cher traveled to Pakistan to bid him farewell as he left for a refuge in Cambodia.

Khalil said that the Karachi Zoo did not adhere to international standards and demanded that Madhubala, the zoo’s remaining healthy elephant, be moved to a location better suited to her species in order to give her a better chance at survival.

Madhubala was lamenting the death of her devoted buddy, according to Four Paws.

There have been rumors in the local media that Karachi Zoo would be permanently closed as a result of the harsh criticism officials have received in response to the photographs showing Noor Jehan helplessly lying on her side.

Four Paws stated that it supported this initiative and added that it might mark a turning point for Pakistan’s wild animals kept in captivity.