KARACHI: Authorities in Pakistan’s financial hub of Karachi said Malka, a female elephant at a safari park in the city, had a painful winter rash, as wildlife experts said the condition of the animal’s foot indicated dehydration and a lack of adequate food and medical attention.
The news of Malka comes just weeks after the “world’s loneliest elephant,” Kaavan, was rescued from a life of misery in Islamabad Zoo and sent to a sanctuary in Cambodia, and two Himalayan brown bears, Suzie and Bubloo, were airlifted to a wildlife park in Jordan.
Malka’s plight came to light this week when a social media user posted about her and her partner Sonu on Twitter, saying the two elephants were “in dire need of foot care ... are chained for 15 hours a day.”
Visited Karachi Safari Park, a place with huge potential but horrid management. The two elephants, Malika and Sonu are in dire need of foot care and they are chained for 15 hours a day. pic.twitter.com/rmz7pacqRH
— stricto sensu (@0waisawan) January 4, 2021
Ali Hasan Sajjad, a spokesperson for the Karachi Municipal Corporation, denied reports of mistreatment of the animals, saying safari authorities were taking proper care of the elephants and Malka’s foot was not injured but had a winter rash.
“The itching will heal within a week,” he said.
Malka, a female elephant, walks in an enclosure at a safari park as a caretaker watches in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 5, 2021. (AN Photo)
Malka, a female elephant, walks in an enclosure at a safari park as a caretaker watches in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 5, 2021. (AN Photo)
Karachi’s safari park, spread over 265 acres, is the largest in SouthEast Asia and houses hundreds of animals, including Malka and Sonu for whom a special enclosure was constructed in 2014, officials said.
Malka, a female elephant, with her caretaker at a safari park in Karachi, Pakistan, on January 5, 2021. (AN Photo)
Dr. Fakhar-i-Abbas, a known wildlife biologist, said the condition of Malka’s foot indicated inadequate food and care as well as dehydration.
“See the rankles, totally dehydrated. The foot has swelled,” he said.
“Proper care should have been taken of Malka and other elephants after the Kaavan episode but unfortunately it seems that people looking after the elephants do not have relevant qualifications,” the biologist said. “At present, the elephant should be given a food supplement which will hydrate the body.”
He added: “It’s high time we train the people who handle elephants.”
