A recent visit to the Karachi Zoo showed that the loss of longtime partner Noor Jehan over three months back had a profound impact on yearold African elephant Madhubala as she seems to have lost her distinct personality . Four Paws team due in city today to finalise plan for relocation to Safari Park .
Experts discourage keeping elephants in zoos as their needs cannot be adequately met in a captive environment. Consequently their welfare is severely compromised. Potential causes for poor welfare in zoo elephants include restricted space and opportunity for exercise unsuitable climate extended periods of confinement hard or wet flooring and inappropriate diet and .
lack of an environment that mimics the social structure elephants need to thrive. Female elephants particularly are intensely social animals. Elephants in the wild can exist in the . wild can exists in herds numbering up to animals. The process is still pending.
The team last visited the zoo in April to help save NoOr Jehan that later died after falling into her pond. At that time the organisation had strongly recommended that MadHubala be relocated as soon as possible to a speciesappropriate place to at least give her a chance at a better life.
The plan for Madhubalas relocation will be prepared and finalised by four Paws an international team of experts working for animal welfare which would be reached in Karachi on Wednesday today . The team is expected to arrive at the zoo on September 1.
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