KARACHI: Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist Dr Buddhika Bandara, who had joined efforts to save Madhubala on Friday, left for home the same day under unclear circumstances, raising concern over Safari Park’s administrative affairs as well as the ongoing health crisis confronting the ailing elephant, it emerged on Saturday.

Sources told Dawn that local authorities had not informed the visiting Sri Lankan expert that he would be working with Dr Amir Khalil of the global animal welfare organisation Four Paws at Safari Park.

“It seems this situation damaged the trust between the two parties, forcing him to leave quietly. Madhubala’s deteriorating condition must have shocked him, too,” shared an official, adding that Dr Bandara’s hesitation to speak at Friday’s presser surprised many journalists who had requested him several times to share his clinical observations of Madhubala.

The sources also expressed concern over the fact that the Safari Park authorities kept Four Paws out for over a year — a critical time during which Madhubala received TB treatment and later developed multiple infections and acute weakness —and then sought its help just three weeks ago when Madhubala’s condition worsened.

KMC spokesperson says Dr Bandara left due to death of a family member in Colombo

Responding to these concerns, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s spokesperson Daniyal Siyal said that Dr Bandara had been monitoring Madhubala’s TB treatment online since his first visit over a year ago.

“He had to leave due to the sudden death of his family member in Colombo. Even last month, he was in touch with us. Last year, he stayed with us for 17 days [for Madhubala’s treatment] and this time, his stay was planned for at least a week,” he explained.

All support was being extended to Dr Khalil, he added.

The foreign experts were invited by local authorities after Safari Park vets had failed to diagnose the factors behind Madhubala’s ongoing health crisis.

The female African elephant has experienced drastic weight loss in recent months and collapsed twice in her enclosure.

According to Dr Khalil, multiple bacterial and parasitic infections and the weakness that followed treatment for tuberculosis have caused Madhubala to lose significant weight. Additionally, she seems to suffer from a linear fracture in the carpal joint.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026