Veterinarians in Pakistan have saved a sick elephant named Noor Jehan at a zoo in Karachi. The 17-year-old elephant has been experiencing health issues, including arthritis, and has been seen in videos leaning her head against a tree and struggling to stand. After the alarm was raised, an eight-member team from the Austrian animal welfare organization Four Paws carried out a complex procedure with the help of a crane and a fire truck.
The team also included veterinarians from Egypt, Bulgaria, and an elephant husbandry expert from Germany. The governor of Sindh province was present at the zoo for the procedure, as were animal rights activists. Dr Amir Khalil, who led the team, said that Noor Jehan had a large hematoma in her abdomen that was affecting her organs.
“The good news is that there is treatment for this, but it requires a lot of work and some luck in the coming days,” Dr Khalil said.
During the procedure, the experts nearly lost Noor Jehan when they gave her sedation. However, luckily, they had all the necessary preparations, and she stood up again. The procedure was complex, requiring the use of a crane and a fire truck, but the team was successful in performing it.
Noor Jehan was brought to Karachi with three other elephants more than a dozen years ago, and her health has been a concern for some time. Videos of her struggling to stand have caused alarm in Pakistan.
The elephant has also broken her pelvis due to trauma, and an abscess is growing in that area. However, Dr Khalil said that there are many treatments available for her, including water massage and movement. The team plans to move her to a bigger area where she can move around freely, which is what Noor Jehan needs.
Dr Khalil said that authorities have agreed to relocate Noor Jehan to a better place with her fellow elephant, Madhubala, as her current conditions are unsuitable. Noor Jehan is still young and deserves to live another 20 or 30 years.
The procedure to save Noor Jehan is an example of the dedication and expertise of the veterinary team. It is also a reminder of the challenges facing elephants in captivity. In recent years, animal welfare organizations have increasingly highlighted the problems faced by elephants in zoos and circuses.
Elephants are social animals that require a large amount of space to move around and interact with others. In captivity, they often suffer from health problems, such as arthritis, and psychological distress. Animal welfare experts argue that the best solution is to end the practice of keeping elephants in captivity altogether.
However, dedicated veterinarians and animal welfare organizations continue to work to improve the lives of captive elephants. The procedure to save Noor Jehan is an important reminder of the ongoing efforts to protect and care for these majestic creatures.