Pakistan: 19-ear-old elephant Sonia dies of suspected heart attack

Sonia, a 19-year-old elephant residing at a safari park in Karachi, Pakistan, tragically passed away on Sunday, reportedly due to heart failure.

This heartbreaking incident occurred less than two weeks after her long-awaited reunion with her sister, Madhubala, who had been separated from her for 15 years.

Sonia had been a resident of Karachi since 2009 and was reunited with Madhubala following her transfer from the Karachi Zoological Garden. The reunion was a significant moment for Sonia and their other sister, Malika.

According to Syed Amjad Hussain Zaidi, director of the safari park, Sonia appeared healthy and was eating normally before her sudden death. Her lifeless body was discovered early Sunday, and park authorities have confirmed that a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

This is the second elephant death in Karachi in two years. In April 2023, Noor Jehan, a 17-year-old elephant, passed away shortly after undergoing a critical medical procedure. The loss of Sonia adds to the city’s somber record of elephant fatalities.

Pakistan’s treatment of captive elephants has drawn international attention. In 2020, Kaavan, dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant,” was relocated to a Cambodian sanctuary after years of isolation in a Pakistani zoo, a move facilitated by global advocacy, including support from singer Cher.