In Karachi, elephant Madhubala receives antibiotics after collapse — Dawn
At the safari park in Pakistan's Karachi, African elephant Madhubala is receiving antibiotics after she suddenly collapsed in her enclosure. The cause of the collapse has not yet been established, although the animal underwent a series of examinations over two days, including X-rays, Dawn reports.
The elephant's condition
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation spokesperson Daniyal Alishan Sial said that Madhubala had acute weakness and low immunity after prolonged treatment for tuberculosis. According to him, laboratory test results were generally normal, while X-rays showed no fractures.
Antibiotics were prescribed for the elephant as a precautionary measure on the recommendation of a local veterinarian. Sial said the animal had elevated infection markers, but no specific cause had been determined. Medical reports were also sent to Dr. Buddhika, a wildlife health specialist from Sri Lanka, for a final assessment.
According to the official, Madhubala can now stand without support, so the support belt has been removed. Swelling on her right rear thigh, Sial said, resulted from the fall. He also dismissed claims that the elephant was severely dehydrated on the day of the incident because of a lack of water in the heat.
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Examinations and care
Safari park director Amjad Zaidi had previously suggested that swelling on Madhubala's right thigh was preventing her from using the leg and said that she had recovered from a foot infection. The publication's sources suggested that the swelling could indicate the spread of an abscess from the foot on the same leg. A veterinarian interviewed by the publication noted that elevated infection markers indicate an immune system response to a problem but do not make it possible to establish its exact cause.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation said that the animal's condition is gradually improving: her vital signs are stable, she has a good appetite, remains alert and responds to her surroundings. Madhubala undergoes daily examinations and blood tests, while X-rays of the rear part of her body are also regularly taken with support from the Sindh Animal Health Institute. Teams of caretakers and veterinarians monitor the elephant around the clock.
History of captivity
Madhubala was moved from Karachi Zoo to the safari park in November 2024, where she was reunited with elephants Sonia and Malika. Her companion Noor Jehan died in 2023 after collapsing in her enclosure. A month after Madhubala was moved, Sonia died at the safari park. Madhubala and Malika had previously been diagnosed with tuberculosis.
