Autopsy Reveals Bacterial Infection Caused Death of Sonia the Elephant in Pakistan

The 19-year-old elephant’s death highlights concerns over neglect and inadequate care for captive animals in the country.

Sonia, a 19-year-old African elephant at a Karachi safari park, died earlier this month from a bacterial infection that spread from an advanced abscess on her foot.
The autopsy, conducted by Pakistani veterinarians and reviewed by the global animal welfare group Four Paws, attributed her death to prolonged poor living conditions and malnutrition.
Four Paws has urged Pakistani authorities to improve care for the country’s remaining elephants, recommending immediate antibiotic treatment and blood tests for Sonia’s surviving companions, Malika and Madhubala.
Sonia’s death follows the 2023 death of Noor Jahan, another elephant in Karachi, and echoes Pakistan’s troubled history with captive elephants, including the case of Kaavan, relocated to Cambodia in 2020 after years of isolation.
Animal welfare advocates are calling for systemic changes in the management of captive elephants in Pakistan, with Four Paws planning a follow-up visit in February to assess the remaining elephants’ health.