Saheli’s death: Three months on, no progress in investigations

Saheli died on May 1 of heart failure at the zoo, according to an autopsy report issued by a Veterinary Laboratory.

ISLAMABAD:

It has been more than three months since Saheli, a 22-year-old female elephant at Marghazar Zoo, died after heart failure.

However, the inquiry committee formed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is yet to fix blame or recommend changes to prevent similar incidents in future.

“Investigations are underway but so far no headway has been achieved,” said a CDA official while talking to APP on Thursday.

Saheli died on May 1 of heart failure at the zoo, according to an autopsy report issued by the National Veterinary Laboratory.

The report said her respiratory system failed after she lay down in an inappropriate position during her illness which affected her breathing system.

The zoo’s veterinarian, Saleem Ansari, had acknowledged that they had been unable to monitor her posture during her illness.

CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal had formed an inquiry committee headed by Member Administration Shaukat Mohmand to probe the matter. However, Mohmand later assigned the responsibility to the forest director.

Saheli had been the most attractive animal at the zoo, particularly for children, who used to enjoy riding her.

Born in 1989 in Sri Lanka, she was brought to Pakistan to be partnered with a male elephant named Kaavan when she was one-year-old. Since her death, CDA has taken no concrete action except for suspending two zoo officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2012.