APATHY seems to once again be descending over the upkeep of the African elephants in Karachi. A few months ago, Noor Jehan’s death at the city zoo had sparked public outrage against the facility’s management, whose negligence was responsible for the pachyderm’s prolonged suffering. But that episode, documented in heart-wrenching detail on social media and in news reports, led to hopes for a more sensitised approach to captive animals. For one, it was decided to move the remaining African elephant at the zoo, Madhubala, to the more spacious Safari Park in the city. Secondly, KMC, which runs both facilities, agreed to develop an elephant sanctuary on the advice of a team from Four Paws International that was in Karachi to treat Noor Jehan. However, as per a report in this paper, conditions at the Safari Park, where two other elephants, Sonia and Malika, are housed, are far from satisfactory. Even worse, the threats to their well-being from a damaged concrete floor and moist conditions inside their enclosure were pointed out over two months ago in a report by a task force set up by the provincial government after Noor Jehan’s death. The task force had also noted a visible foot injury on Sonia; now she appears to be in pain from a swelling on the same leg.

The authorities must urgently address the problems at the Safari Park lest another animal loses its life to preventable causes. Recent reports suggest that work on the sanctuary has been delayed by a tussle over its management. While Four Paws International wants it to be an independently run facility of international standard, the KMC wants to maintain control over it. The latter’s record of indifference towards animals in their care makes them unsuitable to have anything to do with the sanctuary. And the Karachi Zoo, given the misery to which its voiceless denizens are subjected, should be shut down.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2023