In a tragic development, Sonia, an African elephant at Karachi’s renowned Safari Park, has passed away, as reported by national media.
According to a report by ARY News on Sunday, Safari Park officials revealed that Sonia appeared healthy and was eating normally before her sudden death. Her lifeless body was discovered by park staff early in the morning, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
Previously, Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old African elephant at Karachi Zoo, also passed away after undergoing emergency treatment for a tumor. Despite care from international experts and the Four Paws organization, Noor Jehan succumbed to her health complications after collapsing into a pond during her recovery.
The four African elephants including Madhubala, Noor Jehan, Sonia, and Malika were brought to Pakistan in 2009 after being captured in the wild at a young age. Upon arrival in Karachi, they were split between two facilities: Madhubala and Noor Jehan were housed at Karachi Zoo, while Sonia and Malika were sent to Safari Park.
In 2021, the Sindh High Court tasked Four Paws with assessing the elephants’ wellbeing. The organization found all four elephants in need of better diets, enrichment, and medical attention. Noor Jehan and Madhubala required dental surgery due to infections caused by broken tusks. Following Noor Jehan’s death, Madhubala became the last African elephant in captivity at a zoo in Pakistan.
