Nine-member team of experts to treat Noor Jehan

The Karachi zoo administration has taken steps to provide intensive care to ailing elephant Noor Jehan at her own enclosure, with plants and foliage added to the area. The area has been cordoned off and visitors and unauthorised personnel told to stay away.

Meanwhile, Karachi Administrator Dr Saifur Rahman has formed a nine-member committee for the treatment of the ailing elephant.

The 17-year-old African pachyderm could not stand without support for the fifth day in a row. The elephant was harnessed to a crane to change her position every seven to eight hours.

Zoo officials briefing the administrator said the elephant was given massage to improve her muscles, which seem to have atrophied.

The animal was also administered drips along with medicines to address weakness and malnutrition on the instructions of a team of international veterinarians affiliated with Four Paws, who treated the animal earlier this month and were providing supervision and monitoring remotely.

The Four Paws vets were part of the nine-member committee and its lead vet Dr Amir Khalil, Dr Frank Goritz, Dr Thomas Hilderbrant and Dr Marina Ivanova. Former senior director of zoo Dr Mansoor Qazi and Animal Sciences University Lahore Professor Dr Imran Rashid were also included in the committee. Other members include Dr Isma Gheewala, Dr Amir Rizvi and Dr Kazim Hussain.

Zoo Director Kunwar Ayub said that the animal was unable to stand up due to weakness. "We are making her do different exercises."

He said that the elephant was being fed fruits and had begun to eat on her own.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2023.