Noor Jehan’s survival chances 50-50: vets

We fear she won’t get up again if she falls, says Four Paws Dr Amir Khalil on elephant’s surgery

KARACHI:

The 17-year-old African elephant Noor Jehan will undergo a surgical examination today (Wednesday) with the team of veterinarians and wildlife experts associated with Four Paws, a global animal welfare group, saying that the animal’s chances of survival were fifty-fifty.

“The animal’s condition has deteriorated over the last few weeks,” said Egyptian Dr Amir Khalil, who is leading the team of international vets and experts that examined the sick elephant and reviewed its reports at the Karachi Zoological Garden on Tuesday.

The team arrived in Pakistan on the request of Sindh government to provide urgent medical assistance to the sick elephant. Two more experts are expected to arrive in time for the examination, a team member confirmed The Express Tribune.

Dr Khalil said that Noor Jehan suffered from multiple health issues. The elephant, who stood with a stooped gait and has swelling on genitals, could be suffering from arthritis, said the vet. The animal also had skin discoloring which could be due to a fungal infection.

“We will know more after a surgical examination tomorrow. It would include an endoscopy, x-ray and ultrasound after which we will find out the cause and extent of her ailment,” he said.

The team will have a fire brigade, a crane and a wench at their disposal during the surgery. The animal will be hitched to the crane to keep it stable and upright during the operation.

The 17-year-old African elephant Noor Jehan. PHOTO: EXPRESS

“Our greatest concern is not to let the animal fall down. We fear that if Noor Jehan falls down, she it will not get up again,” said Dr Khalil of tomorrow’s surgery while urging people pray for her recovery. “We will find out tomorrow whether it’s a fracture, trauma or an infection.”

He said the animal had an even chance of survival while urging everyone to work together. “It’s not important what went wrong. It’s important what we can do together.”

Dr Marina Ivanov, who is part of the team, said they would determine whether they could start treatment after examining the elephant. “First we need to know the reason of this [present] condition [of the elephant] and then we will suggest the treatment,” she added.

Noor Jehan’s condition could have been the result of an accident, or a fight or collision between the elephants, the vets said. “Was it negligence or an infection? We will know for sure exactly what the problem is,” Dr Khalil added.

Karachi Administrator Dr Saifur Rehman said that the vets were given complete assistance. He said his office contacted vets in Lahore, Faisalabad, Tando Jam and other areas but “no one could treat the sick elephant”.

Also read: Foreign vets expected to visit Karachi zoo next week

Dodging responsibility

The foreign experts who had also visited last year to treat Madhubala, the other elephant sharing the cramped enclosure with Noor Jehan, had urged zoo authorities to relocate both elephants to Safari Park located on University Road.

Two other elephants at the Safari Park were among four baby elephants including Noor Jehan and Madhubala that were brought to Pakistan from Tanzania around 14 years ago.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the officers were to blame for the failure to relocate the two elephants to Safari Park.

Zoo in-charge Khalid Hashmi, who has been under fire over the condition of animals at the zoo, said he has written at least three letters to the administration of Safari Park to set up the enclosure for the elephants. “I haven’t heard anything positive yet,” he said.
 

Foreign vets visit the ailing elephant at the Karachi Zoo. PHOTO: EXPRESS

An official at Safari Park told The Express Tribune that the project cost document had been back to Hashmi’s office. “It is his responsibility to look into the matter,” he responded.

Dr Khalil, in his conversation with media, welcomed the zoo administration’s “strategic decision” to relocate the elephant to Safari Park.

“We will relocate both these elephants to Safari in next two weeks,” Dr Rehman pledged. He said that the Safari administration has been directed to arrange to space for the animals immediately. “The top priority is to relocate as recommended by the vets,” he said.

Mahera Omar, who runs the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society, said that Noor Jehan and Madhubala were kept in a confined enclosure with a cemented surface. “They are chained at night,” she told reporters at the zoo.