KARACHI — Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old African bush elephant, passed away at Karachi Zoo on April 22 after enduring weeks of severe health issues.
Found resting on a sand mound beneath the sole tree in her enclosure, Noor Jehan had been struggling with unexplained injuries that forced her to drag herself using only her front legs.
Her condition had initially gone untreated, but growing social media campaigns by animal rights activists eventually prompted intervention.
Mahera Omar, co-founder of the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society, expressed deep sorrow over the situation. “We are all heartbroken. We are trying our best to keep her comfortable,” she said.
Volunteers, including Jude Allen, made efforts to encourage Noor Jehan to eat, offering her sugar cane while speaking softly to her.
Noor Jehan’s ordeal drew widespread attention nationwide, with media outlets closely following her story.
Her enclosure, about the size of four tennis courts, became a focal point for numerous television cameras as they documented her final days.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a conservationist, and grandson of a former Pakistani prime minister, viewed Noor Jehan’s suffering as emblematic of broader issues. “She has been caged, starved, abused, exploited. And this is the state of Pakistan,” he commented.
Noor Jehan arrived at Karachi Zoo nearly 15 years ago after being captured by a poacher in Tanzania. Initially, there were high hopes for her future, but her life at the zoo was far from ideal.
The enclosure, located near a busy road, offered little comfort, and she spent her nights shackled alongside another captive female elephant, Madhubala. The reasons for this practice remain unclear.
Kanwar Ayub, who became the zoo’s director in early April, declined to discuss the zoo’s history of neglect or its current conditions, focusing instead on managing Noor Jehan’s rapidly declining health. His predecessor had been dismissed due to similar issues.
The tragic circumstances of Noor Jehan’s death have sparked a larger conversation about animal welfare in Pakistan.
Pakistani singer Natasha Baig voiced her frustration on Instagram, stating, “Pakistan is truly incapable of showing mercy to animals,” while others questioned the country’s ability to manage zoos responsibly.
Activists hope that Noor Jehan’s story will significantly improve the treatment of animals across Pakistan.
Ayesha Chundrigar, founder of ACF Animal Rescue, remarked, “What I have seen in Pakistan as far as animal abuse goes, I have never seen in any other country.”
In the wake of Noor Jehan’s death, efforts are being made to improve the conditions of other animals at Karachi Zoo.
Plans are underway to move Madhubala to Karachi Safari Park, where she would have better living conditions and a provincial investigation into the zoo’s practices has been ordered.
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