According to Al Jazeera, Karachi’s zoo once housed four African elephant calves captured in Tanzania in 2009. Two of those calves – Noor Jahan and Madhubala – remained at the city zoo while their sisters, Sonia and Malika, were moved to the larger Safari Park (S4). Noor Jahan died in April 2023 after a long battle with infection and malnutrition, prompting volunteer caretaker Jude Allen to launch the “I Am Noor Jahan” campaign (S1, S2). Allen has since focused on Madhubala, the only remaining African elephant at the zoo, who was described as banging her head against the gate because she had no companion (S8). In November 2024 Four Paws facilitated a reunion of Madhubala with her sisters at Safari Park; the meeting was brief before Sonia collapsed and died in December 2024 from a severe bacterial infection linked to poor living conditions (S9, S10). Both Madhubala and Malika were later diagnosed with tuberculosis, though recent examinations indicate Madhubala is no longer testing positive (S11). Veterinarian Amir Khalil reports that Madhubala has regained about 85 % of her walking ability after intensive care, including high‑pressure water massages (S12). The Karachi Municipal Corporation’s mayor has pledged cooperation with animal‑welfare groups, yet activists argue the Safari Park still functions more like a zoo than a sanctuary (S20, S22). What do you think is the realistic path forward for Madhubala – further medical support, relocation to a larger reserve, or a broader policy change for captive wildlife in Pakistan?
Madhubala’s Struggle: Can Karachi’s Last African Elephant Survive?
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