KARACHI: Admitting the petition, seeking court order for conducting the surgery of four ailing African elephants at Karachi’s zoo and Safari Park, for immediate hearing, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday sought replies from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the advocate general and others by the third week of May.

In his petition, Abbas Laghari Advocate said that on December 22, 2021, a foreign veterinary, in his report, had recommended surgery of these elephants namely Malaika, Sonu, Noor Jahan and Madho Bala keeping in view their deteriorating health. “But so far they have not been operated upon,” the petition read.

The petitioner went on to add that Malaika and Sohnu had been kept in a cage at Safari Park while Noor Jahan and Madho Bala at the zoo. “Keeping these animals chained for 14 to 15 hours may have life threatening consequences,” he said, and added, “Another issue is that when these elephants keep standing at a certain place for so many hours, it makes the ground they are standing on filthy. And when this happens, their feet develop infection which is the most common cause of death in elephants.”

Abbas Advocate prayed to the court to order removal of these elephants from their cages so that they could be kept at open places. He also sought court order for the management of the zoo as well as the Safari Park to get these elephants operated upon.