MY heart is crying because Malika, the African elephant languishing in Karachi’s Safari Park, is in pain. She needs a vet. And she needs it rather urgently. Malika is suffering from infection in her back right foot. She cannot even stand properly, as can be seen in the picture above, and has severe swelling.

According to those in the know of such things, foot problems in elephants may prove fatal, as, once they collapse under their own weight, they never get back on their feet.

Various animal rights organisations and individuals will start posting it on the social media, portraying a negative image of the country to the outside world.

What good will it bring, if any? All Malika needs is a vet. Can’t we do even that much?

Fatima Inam Qadir Khan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2021