Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old elephant at the Karachi Zoo, has suffered a severe setback after falling into a pond inside her enclosure. The elephant, who was already an intensive care patient, has been suffering from severe physical trauma for the past three months. Noor Jehan’s muscle mass has shrunk, her spine appears disfigured, and her legs appear crooked. The fall into the cemented pond worsened her condition, leaving her lifeless and propped up against a mound of sand.

The zoo management used a crane along with ropes and belts to lift her up from the pond. Dr. Amir Khalil of Four Paws, an international animal welfare organisation, has been in contact with the team on the ground and is assisting them round the clock. He said the elephant was administered a lot of infusions and was sleeping now. “Early morning (today) we will try to make her stand up again with a crane.”