According to sources, the health of Karachi Zoo’s beloved elephant, Noor Jehan, is deteriorating, and she is suffering from joint and bone pains. The administration has kept her on painkillers, leading to various organs becoming infected. Noor is unable to walk, and the drugs have worsened her knee’s condition. The zoo was previously advised by international organizations to keep the elephants in open spaces. However, Senior Director Khalid Hashmi has yet to transfer Noor to Safari Park. Hashmi stated that Noor’s health is not that bad, and they are trying to improve her health through imported medicines. A representative from Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, is aware of Noor’s condition, and a plan of action will be decided soon.
Additionally, companies that supply food to the animals at the Karachi Zoo have alleged that Hashmi and former director Raza Abbas Rizvi are demanding money for the clearance of their outstanding bills. Two companies claim that the zoo owes them a considerable amount, and when they requested payment, the former director took a huge amount but did not pay them. Now, Hashmi is demanding a 25% commission on the bills to clear them. Both contractors claim that it is no longer possible to supply feed on loan, and the previous dues must be cleared.
On Friday, the Sindh High Court admitted a petition seeking a court order to conduct surgery on four ailing African elephants at Karachi’s zoo and Safari Park. The petition claims that a foreign veterinary report recommended surgery for the elephants on December 22, 2021, but they have not yet been operated upon. The court has sought replies from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the advocate general, and others by the third week of May. The report stated that the health of the four elephants was in danger, and they urgently need medical treatment. The detailed report prepared by a German doctor stated that the four elephants are in urgent need of medical treatment, and their lives could be in danger if they do not receive it.
