Karachi, December 8, 2024 – The city is reeling from the sudden death of 18-year-old elephant Sonia, the second loss in less than two years at the Safari Park. Sonia was found lifeless in her enclosure on Sunday morning, leaving residents and animal welfare advocates in shock and mourning.
The elephant’s post-mortem is scheduled for Monday, with a team led by Dr. Ghulam Mustafa from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore. An expert from Four Paws, the animal welfare organization overseeing the park’s elephant care, expressed deep concern, noting that Sonia had shown signs of weakness and swelling in recent weeks but had been receiving regular treatment.
Director of Safari Park Amjad Zaidi emphasized that the staff had been providing the best care, with recent medical tests revealing no major concerns. “We are all in shock. It appears she may have suffered a heart attack,” he said, dismissing earlier fears of negligence.
Dr. Amir Khalil of Four Paws, while grieving the loss, confirmed that Sonia had a history of health issues, including swelling in her hind legs and weight loss. Despite these concerns, Khalil pointed out that the park was not at fault for the elephant’s sudden death. “The space provided for her at the park was not ideal, and the long-term health struggles were acknowledged, but the care was thorough,” he added.
Sonia, originally named Sonu, had been part of a group of four elephants brought from Tanzania as a young calf. She had been with the park since her capture and was mistakenly identified as a male for over a decade until a 2021 examination clarified her true gender.
Her death leaves just two elephants at the Safari Park, Malika and Madhubala. The latter, recently relocated from the Karachi Zoo, was introduced to provide companionship after the death of her long-time friend, Noor Jahan, last year. The tragic timing of Sonia’s passing has left the park’s future elephant population uncertain.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has called for an inquiry into the incident to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and ensure the welfare of the remaining elephants.