Foreign veterinarians paid a visit to a sickly elephant at a southern Pakistani zoo on Tuesday, amid widespread concern about her well-being and living conditions.
Noor Jehan arrived in Karachi with three other elephants more than a decade ago. Videos of her, now 17, struggling to stand with her head against a tree have sparked concern in Pakistan. In 2021 and 2022, campaigners and international veterinarians raised awareness of Noor Jehan’s plight.
According to the veterinarians from Austria and Egypt, Noor Jehan has arthritis, among other health issues. According to Dr. Amir Khalil, who examined the elephant, her joints are causing her excruciating pain.
“Our main concern is that the elephant does not fall down,” he explained. “If that happens, we fear she will never be able to stand again.” He gave her a 50-50 chance of survival, stating that she is visibly distressed and has had mobility issues for the last three weeks.