KARACHI: A long-time Safari Park resident, the elephant named Sonia faced a sudden death last night, News reported on Sunday.
The facility’s staff found body of the female elephant lying lifeless in the enclosure she was kept in, this morning.
Authorities say that the cause of death is being suspected to be a heart attack.
Safari Park Director Syed Amjad Hussain Zaidi said the probable reason for her death may be a heart attack. However, he added, that the actual reason will only be ascertained after the post-mortem.
Speaking to 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, obviously, 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.
“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.
The autopsy is expected to take place in two days under the supervision of Dr Amir Khalil, Director of Project Development at the animal welfare organisation Four Paws International.
Until the procedure is completed, Sonia’s body will remain at Safari Park.
Previously named Sonu, the tusker was mistaken as a male by the Safari Park for 12 years until the examination by Four Paws in 2021.
She was captured from the wild in Tanzania when she was very young together with three other female elephants.
Now, with Sonia’s death, Safari Park has now been left with only two elephants: Malika and Madhubala.
Sonia’s death comes just a couple of weeks after the transfer of Madhubala, earlier housed at Karachi Zoo, to Safari Park.
It was done to provide more natural environment and companions to Madhubala after her long-time companion Noor Jahan died at the zoo last year.
After the death of Noor Jahan, the concerned animal experts advised shifting Madhubala to the Safari Park, where she would get the company of two animals.