Elephant Sonia’s Chronic Illnesses and Neglected Care at Safari Park KARACHI
KARACHI: Elephant Sonia housed at the Safari Park suffered from multiple chronic illnesses, affecting almost all vital organs. She ultimately succumbed to her conditions.
“Elephant Sonia’s death in the last month – marking the second occurrence of such tragedy within less than two years for captive elephants under the care of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). This event left citizens shocked and grief-stricken.”*
Illnesses plaguing Sonia included severe bloodstream bacterial infection, tuberculosis, respiratory failure. Despite these ailments being reported as “severe systemic septicemia” according to the postmortem report by Dr Ghulam Mustafa of UVAS Lahore’s University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences.*
Dr Rizvi recounted Sonia’s medical history, revealing blood parasitic infestation. Despite treatment for these infections, her health only deteriorated over time with no sign of recovery as per Dr Mustafa’s report which quotes him: “Her body condition was not good and she did not show improvement.”
Dr Rizvi’s statement from the postmortem highlighted Sonia’s death due to a combination of septicemia, respiratory failure (chronic pneumonia), cardiovascular collapse, liquefactive necrosis in her lungs and gastrointestinal issues.)
The report noted the presence of organisms such as Klebsiella, Pseudomonas bacteria along with Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Additionally, Elephant Sonia’s foot had an advanced abscess causing infection and tuberculosis complex was also detected.
Sonia’s death underlines the unfortunate reality of captive elephants facing irreversible organ damage due to neglected care, with symptoms including chronic pneumonia leading up her demise. A recent discovery during Madhubala’s relocation had revealed an abscess on Sonia’s foot which was only recently treated.
Published in Dawn January 8th, 2025
