Plans are underway to relocate Madhubala, the second elephant at Karachi Zoo, to Safari Park within the next 60 days.
Wildlife experts are attributing the demise of Noor Jahan the elephant to the environmental pollution prevalent in the city center.
Two years ago, these same wildlife experts highlighted that the zoos in Pakistan are unsuitable for housing elephants.
Madhubala, a teenager, now resides alone in her enclosure at the zoo following the recent passing of her long-time partner, Noor Jehan. Noor Jehan, who had been ailing for some time, succumbed to her illness on April 22, coinciding with the first day of Eidul Fitr. Her condition had deteriorated further after she experienced a fall inside her cage earlier this month.
The demise of Noor Jehan sparked concerns for the wellness of Madhubala, with experts emphasizing the urgent need to relocate her to the Safari Park where two other elephants are living.
A team from Four Paws International, an animal welfare organization, arrived in Karachi last week to provide assistance to the authorities in relocating the elephant.
In an interview, Dr. Saifur Rehman, the administrator of KMC, shared that transferring Madhubala to Safari Park was a challenging undertaking. According to him, moving a massive animal that weighs more than 2,000 kilograms in a container necessitates specialized knowledge and scientific inquiry. “It’s an uphill task,” he added.
According to Dr. Rehman, a plan to relocate Madhubala has developed in collaboration with Four Paws is currently in progress.
According to an official, preparations for Madhubala’s relocation at the zoo have commenced. The dedicated zoo staff has initiated the training process. The training involves teaching Madhubala to enter the container and remain inside it throughout the shifting procedure.
As per Dr. Rehman’s statement, the deadline to transfer Madhubala to Safari Park is set for mid-June.
Dr. Rehman mentioned that a new elephant house will construct at Safari Park to house Madhubala.
In contrast to Karachi Zoo, Safari Park is located on a vast expanse of land with a natural environment.
Four Paws, a global animal welfare organization, announced today that Madhubala, an African elephant, will relocate. A sanctuary will establish in the city for the remaining elephants. This comes after authorities have agreed to the move, which will improve the welfare of the elephants. The welfare provides them with a safer and more suitable habitat.
Dr. Amir Khalil of Four Paws states that their organization has no interest in relocating the elephant to another zoo. They believe that the elephant should transfer to an elephant sanctuary. The sanctuary adheres to international standards and should construct in Pakistan.
