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Animal experts will decide in the coming days whether to euthanize a sick elephant at a Pakistani zoo who collapsed in its enclosure last week and has been unable to get up since, officials said.
African elephant Noor Jahan, 17, is unwell as he rests on sand at a zoo in Karachi, Pakistan (Reuters)
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The 17-year-old African elephant received emergency treatment for a tumor in Karachi on April 5, but collapsed a few days later and has been lying on his side ever since.
Animal rights activists on social media in Pakistan and abroad are sharing Noor Jehan’s plight, prompting calls for the zoo to be closed.
Zoos in Pakistan are often accused of disregarding animal welfare, and in 2020 a court ordered the closure of the only zoo in the country’s capital because it was dilapidated.
Noor Jehan’s fate is now in the hands of a committee awaiting the arrival of Amir Khalil, chief veterinarian at Austrian animal charity Four Paws International.
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Khalil, who leads Noor Jehan’s tumor treatment team, told AFP he wanted to make “one last attempt” to help the pachyderm recover.
“We will fight till the end for her recovery and the rest will be left to God,” said Karachi Zoo director Kanwar Ayub.
“We are working hard to treat Noor Jehan as directed by Four Paws.”
Despite Noor Jehan standing beside her, she was still eating and was stung by drips and given regular watering to calm her down.
“Her condition remains critical and uncertain,” Fourpaws said.
Vet Khalil said the focus may shift to Noor Jehan’s pen pal, Madhubala, in hopes of finding better accommodation for her.
“We will do what we can for Nur Jehan, but we really need to move another animal,” he said.
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In 2019, a zoo in Islamabad was closed amid international condemnation for the treatment of an Asian elephant named Kaavan.
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Kavan was later flown to Cambodia to retire, a project spearheaded by American pop star and actress Cher and executed by Four Paws.
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