‘Noor Jahan’ may be relocated to Safari Park

Karachi zoo to lose main attraction next month

KARACHI:

One of the most frequented recreational points by children in the metropolitan city will lose one of its biggest attractions: Noor Jahan, the elephant.

The administration of Karachi's Zoological and Botanical Garden, located in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city, Garden, has finally decided to relocate Noor Jahan after it underwent a tusk surgery about six months ago.

The elephant, which suffered from some bone and joint illness, could not move easily after the surgery. "It seems she is still ill or in pain," a visitor from Sujawal district, Mohammad Hussain Soomro, said while visiting the zoo along with his children.

"She is fine. Animals feel this way after major surgeries," Khalid Hashmi, Senior Director at the zoo, told The Express Tribune.

He also confirmed that the foreign vets who operated upon Noor Jahan will soon visit Karachi. "We have been in contact with them and expecting them in Karachi at the end of this month or in April," he added.

"It was on their recommendation that we decided to relocate the elephant to another suitable place. We also feel it is suitable to immediately take them to their new house in Safari Park," he said, adding that construction of a new enclosure has already been started there.

Commenting on Noor Jahan's health, Hashmi said that it was a common problem with animals. "She is fine and healthy and it will take her some time to get well," he added.

The zoo administration believes that most visitors, especially the children, want to see their favourite animals, including elephant. "The zoo will be without elephants until we get new ones," Hashmi said.

He said that the Karachi administrator has already been informed about the situation. A request has been forwarded to the city government to import Asian elephants for the zoo, he added. "Only Asian elephants can survive here," Hashmi said while adding that the zoo had Asian elephants in the 1990s and visiting children used to ride on them.

Meanwhile, Marina Ivanova, project manager of Four Pawas, said while treatment is being offered to the elephant, this is not enough for her as she needs a natural environment where her suffering and trauma could automatically alleviate.

Previously, the Four Paws suggested the Zoo authorities to move the elephant to the Safari Park because it was suffering from noise pollution and lack of a healthy environment. Noor Jehan's quarter at the Karachi Zoo consists of a muddy yard and a smaller cage where she gave rides to children for Rs20.

The space is barren - no shrubs, trees or watering holes. Elephants, like humans, are social animals and live in herds. However Noor Jehan has lived her life with just one other fellow elephant. The Paws chief mentioned that the basic five universal freedoms for animals should be given to the elephants. This includes a life that is full of choices about when, where and how they sleep, eat, bathe, socialise and spend their waking hours.

with additional input by DNA

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2023.