Back in 2021, FOUR PAWS was first asked to help the last four remaining African elephants in Pakistan. The four female elephants were taken from the wild in Tansania at a young age and brought to Karachi. They were then separated, Madhubala and Noor Jehan were taken to Karachi Zoo, and their sisters, Sonia and Malika, to Karachi Safari Park.

In November 2021, the Sindh High Court in Pakistan asked FOUR PAWS to assess the wellbeing of the four elephants. They were all found to be in need of a proper diet, enrichment activities, and medical treatment due to issues such as broken tusks and dental problems. FOUR PAWS and the authorities in Karachi worked together to improve the situation and dental surgeries were performed to help release their pain.

Noor Jehan, was Madhubala’s sister and her companion for 15 years. When she passed away in 2023 after years of inappropriate keeping this left Madhubala in solitary confinement which in turn led to negative impacts on her mental and physical health.

Since then, we have been doing everything we can to get Madhubala out of the zoo and relocate her to Karachi Safari Park. FOUR PAWS has made significant adaptations and improvements to create a species-appropriate, natural environment for her where she will have more space to roam and receive better keeping conditions. Additionally, we hope she can eventually be reintroduced to her sisters, Malika and Sonia.

In order to safely reunite her with her sisters Malika and Sonia and to end her solitary confinement, species-appropriate measures at Safari Park had to be implemented. We also began training Madhubala to enter the transport crate so that she would feel comfortable and safe during the relocation. 

Before the crate training was integrated as a daily activity, her only mental enrichment was playing with her ‘only friend’ – an old tyre. Elephants are highly social animals that require strong family bonds for their emotional well-being so when her sister died, Madhubala lost that vital bond. The lack of companionship has significantly affected her mental health, leading to stereotypical behaviors such as head-swaying and pacing.

Fortunately, the crate training, which included interactions with our FOUR PAWS elephant expert and her care takers, has had a very positive effect on Madhubala's mental health. This training is not only essential for her safe relocation but has also served as a valuable form of enrichment that keeps her active and engaged. 

She has made great progress, voluntarily entering the crate and she enjoys spending time inside, as it always means she gets a generous serving of tasty treats.

After more than a year of preparation, Madhubala is ready to be relocated to a species-appropriate enclosure. At Karachi Safari Park, she will be able to enjoy bathing in the large natural pool, mud baths and to dust herself in various types of soil.

After 15 years of separation from her sisters, Madhubala will finally be reunited with them. The three elephants will have all the time they need to bond once again in a safe environment, allowing them to thrive and flourish in their new home at Karachi Safari Park.

Stay tuned for more information about the relocation and her new beginning in life.