The Safari Park administration was found ‘apparently free of negligence’ in the death of Sonia, a female African elephant, according to Dr. Amir Khalil, Mission Director for Four Paws.
Speaking on a private news channel program on Tuesday, Dr. Khalil acknowledged that the enclosure Sonia shared with other elephants was not very spacious, and her health had been deteriorating for some time.
“Sonia suffered from a trunk infection, swelling in her hind legs, and significant weight loss,” Dr. Khalil revealed, adding that both Four Paws and the park administration were aware of her condition.
Sonia was discovered dead in her enclosure on early Sunday morning and was buried in an 18-foot-deep grave following a five-hour autopsy led by Dr. Ghulam Mustafa, invited by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Four Paws.
Dr. Amir Ismail, Deputy Director of the Karachi Zoo, and volunteers from the Edhi Foundation assisted in the procedure.
READ: Elephant Sonia dies at Karachi’s Safari Park
Safari Park Director Amjad Zaidi disclosed that several samples were collected for analysis, with results expected in two weeks.
“The findings will help determine the exact cause of Sonia’s death,” he said.
Four Paws stressed their involvement, noting that Dr. Khalil supervised the autopsy remotely from Vienna.
The organization confirmed that Madhubala and Malika, the park’s remaining elephants, are in good health, however, their treatment will be potentially adjusted based on the autopsy findings.
Source: The News International
