Noor Jehan: Ailing elephant at Pakistan's Karachi Zoo dies

Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old critically ill elephant, has died at Karachi Zoo, where several other animals are underfed and lacking care as a consequence of Pakistan's economic crisis. The animal welfare charity that had been treating the elephant called for the crisis-hit zoo's closure.

A global animal welfare organisation, Four Paws, said in a statement that the elephant suffered serious ailments before falling in a pond last week and was unable to get up without help.

"She (Jehan) rests in peace now," Dawn newspaper quoted animal rights activist Mahera Omar as saying. Omar had been closely working with vets treating the deceased pachyderm.

Austria-based Four Paws tweeted that Jehan's story was a "reminder of the suffering that captive wild animals endure in Pakistan and around the world. We hope that the authorities in Pakistan will take this as an example and do better for captive wild animals in the future."

Noor Jehan was an African elephant whose average lifespan is 60 to 70 years. Four Paws veterinarian Amir Khalil said it was "heartbreaking that she had to die at only 17 years old, when she could have had many more years".

Experts and vets who were treating her called for other animals at the Pakistan zoo to be evacuated. They want Madhubala, the other elephant at the zoo, to be relocated as soon as possible. They called for averting a second tragedy and shift Noor Jehan's "mourning" partner to a "species-appropriate place to at least give her a chance at a better life".

What had happened to Noor Jehan?

Noor Jehan underwent emergency treatment for a tumour which had crippled her hind legs. During her recovery period, she became trapped in her enclosure's pool.

The animal charity stated that zoo workers hauled out the 3.5-tonne mammal but she was unable to stand and lay stricken for nine days, "a life-threatening situation for elephants".

The statement further noted that experts were even considering euthanasia but before a decision was taken, "she succumbed to her critical condition".

Alarming situation at zoos in Pakistan

A statement by Four Paws International said the Karachi zoo "does not fulfill international standards" and is not equipped to take appropriate care of elephants. The organisation expressed support for a forced closure.

The condition of animals kept in zoos continues to worsen across Pakistan. In April 2020, a court ordered the only zoo in Pakistan's capital Islamabad to shut down after poor facilities and mistreatment of the animals there were revealed. It is the same zoo where the elephant Kaavan was kept.

Kaavan, an Asian elephant, was airlifted to retirement in Cambodia in a project spearheaded by US popstar and actor Cher.

In March, Karachi zoo's Golden Tabby tiger died at 21 and according to sources, it had been ill for a long time and apparently failed to receive proper care.

Some 206 birds and 76 other animals died in 2017, while 122 birds and 45 other animals perished in 2018. Multiple deaths were also reported in the Peshawar zoo since it was inaugurated in February 2018.

(With inputs from agencies)

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