This week, a team from the international animal welfare organisation Four Paws travelled to Karachi to help the 17-year-old suffering elephant Noor Jehan at the city’s zoo.
This week, a team from the international animal welfare organisation Four Paws travelled to Karachi to help the 17-year-old suffering elephant Noor Jehan at the city’s zoo.
Her pain and physical distress were primarily caused by an internal hematoma and a damaged pelvic floor, which were discovered during the examination. They offered immediate pain management solutions and additional rehabilitation advice for Noor Jehan.
Since 2021, experts have advised that the elephant Noor Jehan and her companion Madhubala be relocated to a location that complies with international standards for their species. Now that Noor Jehan is healthy enough to be moved, the authorities have finally committed to moving both elephants.
Noor Jehan’s pain started with a limp and quickly worsened into a disconcerting condition that left her partially paralyzed. Noor Jehan’s deteriorating health took centre stage after civil society’s outrage.
Officials from the zoo eventually called Four Paws specialists because Pakistan did not have the medication or specialised tools required to treat Noor Jehan. An ultrasound exam and additional laboratory tests were performed as part of the medical procedures to assess Noor Jehan’s condition and determine the best course of treatment.
After determining the root of the elephant’s serious condition, the team administered medications, vitamins, painkillers, and hydrotherapy to bring her immediate relief. The expert team on-site was led by Four Paws veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil, who stated: “During the ultrasound examination we detected an inner hematoma and a damaged pelvic floor.
This demonstrates that trauma must have occurred, explaining both her peculiar body position and the painful health condition that has resulted from it. To reactivate and train her leg muscles, which will also increase the mobility of her digestive tract, Noor Jehan needs to move a lot. To assist with this, she will also be given a special diet.
It is now more crucial than ever that Noor Jehan regains her strength so that she and her companion Madhubala can soon be transferred to a more suitable home where she can continue to recover. Khalil added that they had provided Noor Jehan’s recovery recommendations and guidelines to the zoo authorities.
But now, he continued, “her future and survival depend on the zoo keeping up with them.” Noor Jehan’s recent suffering could have been avoided if she had been relocated sooner, according to Four Paws Global CEO Josef Pfabigan, but he added that they were happy she had a chance at a better life.
As many animals as possible will benefit from the organization’s continued support in situations where viable solutions can be found. It is important to note that Sonu and Malika, the other two captive African elephants in Pakistan, reside at Karachi Safari Park while Noor Jehan and Mabhubala are housed at Karachi Zoo.
In 2009, all four were taken captive from the wild and transported jointly to Pakistan. Elephants should have access to large, open spaces with natural surroundings and pliable ground where they can move about. Elephants enjoy bathing in mud, so they require sand and water to play in.