Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS successfully transferred African elephant Madhubala from the inappropriate keeping conditions at Karachi Zoo to her brand-new tailor-made enclosure at Karachi Safari Park. After more than 15 years of separation from her siblings Malika and Sonia, this day will go down as the reunion of the decade and an emotional rebirth in her moving life.
Ever since the tragic death of her sister Noor Jehan at Karachi Zoo over one and a half years ago, African elephant Madhubala has suffered from loneliness, her only remaining companion being an old tire.
“Madhubala’s rehoming into a species-appropriate enclosure is a gigantic step for more animal welfare in Pakistan and sends a strong signal to other countries around the world where elephants are still kept in private captivity for entertainment purposes,” says FOUR PAWS CEO and President Josef Pfabigan.
The moving day for Madhubala was thoroughly planned down to the smallest details in order to not leave any eventuality unnoticed. After a final briefing by experienced FOUR PAWS experts, Madhubala, who was quite nervous before entering the crate, was given a sedative under the lead of Dr Frank Göritz from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) to calm down. The team then carried out the logistical mammoth task to lift her up in the air with a crane and position her safely on a truck. As soon as the crate was secured, the convoy accompanied by police and FOUR PAWS expert team set off. The police forces facilitated the smooth journey of the convoy through the bustling streets of the 20-million-metropolis of Karachi.
“Seeing Madhubala arrive in her beautiful forever home, already perceiving the closeness of her sisters, fills me with the utmost of joy. We are now looking forward to harvest what we have sown for so long – the reunion of the decade with her two sisters, Malika and Sonia, who showed signs of excitement at the unexpected arrival of her missing sister. The three of them will need time for that and we are committed to giving them as much as they need.
After releasing Madhubala from the transport crate into her new safety enclosure, a health assessment and stress monitoring was undertaken showing normal reactions by the pachyderm. The health condition of the three elephants will be closely observed by the head veterinarian Dr Göritz, who has been involved in the treatment of the elephants since 2021.
“The efforts of all the involved stakeholders were tremendous. Especially the close alignment with the mayor of Karachi and KMC, Murtaza Wahab, fast-tracked the developments of Madhubala’s relocation. To finally see her thriving in her new species-appropriate enclosure exceeds our expectations. It is one of the main pillars of the work of FOUR PAWS to make sure we find sustainable long-term solutions to improve the lives of as many animals as possible together with our local stakeholders and global network,” says Pfabigan.