Noor Jehan’s survival chances improve

A team of international veterinarians that took part in a three-hour diagnostic examination of Noor Jehan at the Karachi zoo on Wednesday said the ailing 17-year-old African elephant might be out of danger but was still suffering and in a lot of pain.

The vets, part of the Four Paws team, arrived earlier this week after images and videos of the elephant struggling to move and visibly distressed in her cramped enclosure at the zoo were shared widely on social media.

The vets, who a day earlier had put the animal's chances of survival at fifty-fifty, were upbeat after the examination. "She is out of danger," said Egyptian Dr Amir Khalil, who led the team

The vets said they had detected inner hematoma and a damaged pelvic diaphragm. She also has intestinal issues. The doctors added that the x-ray didn't show any broken bones.

Prof Dr Thomas Hildebrand of the Leibnitz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, who joined the team on Tuesday, said the animal had a lot of stress on her kidneys. "It is causing abdominal pain."

He hoped that after treatment, Noor Jehan might live for next 20 more years. African animal live to the age of 70 in the wild.

There was also a tricky moment during the examination when the animal was sedated for examination while being strapped to a crane.

The sedation had to be reversed after the animal couldn't be held upright even with the crane.

"Luckily, it was still possible to carry on with the examination as the team managed to calm her down by talking and standing by her side while the expert vets performed their procedures," the Four Paws team said.

Tug of war

Meanwhile, the controversial zoo administrator, Khalid Hashmi, was hard to find as the elephant underwent the examination. There have been accusations of neglect, resulting in the death of animals. Visitors as well as workers at the zoo have complained that animals dietary requirements were not being met.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who was at the zoo, instructed KMC Administrator Dr Saifur Rehman to find out the reason for the zoo administrator's absence.

He also acknowledge shortage of food and water for animals at the zoo. "We also need to set up a laboratory and the hospital [for the zoo]," he said.

The zoo administration has also been criticised for its failure to relocate Noor Jehan to the Safari Park, which had been suggested by the Four Paws team during their last visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2023.