Safari park’s beloved elephant Sonia passes away unexpectedly

Karachi: Sonia, a long-time resident of Karachi’s Safari Park, passed away unexpectedly last night, leaving the park with just two elephants. Authorities suspect a heart attack, though the exact cause of death will only be confirmed after a post-mortem.

Safari Park Director Syed Amjad Hussain Zaidi shared details about the incident, saying the team received news of Sonia’s death at around 6:30 AM. “The probable cause seems to be a heart attack, but the definitive reason will only be known after the autopsy,” he explained.

Efforts are being made to preserve Sonia’s remains. “Her body is being kept surrounded by ice, and the cold weather is aiding in preservation until the autopsy is conducted,” Zaidi added.

The post-mortem, supervised by Dr. Amir Khalil of Four Paws International, is scheduled for two days later.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed his sorrow over Sonia’s passing. “I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Sonia at Safari Park,” he said.

Sonia’s death follows a string of tragic losses for the city’s elephants. The park now houses only two elephants, Malika and Madhubala, after Sonia’s demise.

Captured in Tanzania as a calf along with three other female elephants, Sonia had spent her life at the park. Originally misidentified as male and named Sonu, her gender was confirmed during an examination by Four Paws in 2021.

Her death comes just weeks after Madhubala, previously housed at Karachi Zoo, was transferred to Safari Park to join Sonia and Malika. The move aimed to provide Madhubala with a more natural environment following the death of her long-time companion, Noor Jahan, earlier this year.

Sonia’s sudden death underscores ongoing concerns about the care and well-being of elephants in captivity. Animal welfare groups have called for better facilities and monitoring to prevent further tragedies.