Elephant Sonia Dies Unexpectedly at Karachi Safari Park
Death is being suspected to be a heart attack.
A female elephant named Sonia has died unexpectedly at the Karachi Safari Park, as confirmed by park officials. Staff discovered her deceased when they arrived for work on Sunday morning.
The park has cordoned off the elephant enclosure and restricted media access while the cause of death remains undetermined, pending a post-mortem examination. Further details will be released after the autopsy is completed.
Sonia, who was nearly 19 years old, is the third elephant to die at the park and had lived there since being brought from Tanzania in 2009. Her death follows a recent reunion with her sister, Madhubala, who had been relocated from the Karachi Zoological Garden just weeks prior. This reunion came after a separation of approximately 15 years.
The director of the Karachi Safari Park, Amjad Zidi, indicated that Sonia’s death marks a troubling trend for elephants in captivity in Pakistan.
Speaking to Geo News, Zaidi said: “We received the news about Sonia at around 6:30 in the morning, and we immediately came here. As of now, we cannot determine the cause of death because it will only be confirmed after the post-mortem.”
“We have secured her body and placed ice around it. The weather is cold, so we will be able to preserve her remains,” he added.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed his sadness on hearing of the tusker’s demise. “I am saddened to hear about the death of the elephant Sonia at Safari Park,” he said.
Her passing follows that of another elephant, Noor Jehan, who died in April 2023 after undergoing a significant medical operation. The history of captive elephants in Pakistan has been fraught with challenges, including inadequate living conditions and health issues.
