Keeping Madhubala alive: The fight for Karachi’s captive elephants

Madhubala became the campaign’s focus because she represents Karachi’s wider problem with captive elephants. She was the only African elephant at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s zoo after Noor Jehan died. Activists say the system lacks the staff, facilities and attention needed to care for animals properly. Her case has therefore become a demand for better treatment and accountability.

Her condition made the problem visible. Madhubala reportedly banged her head against her enclosure gate and had no elephant companion. After moving to Safari Park in November 2024, she briefly reunited with sisters Sonia and Malika. Sonia died days later from an infection linked to an advanced foot abscess. Madhubala also lost more than 200kg, struggled to rise and faced wounds and tuberculosis concerns.

Now activists, Four Paws and wildlife veterinarians are supporting her recovery. Recent examinations indicated that Madhubala was no longer testing positive for tuberculosis, and Amir Khalil said she had regained 85 percent of her walking ability. Her survival could influence how Karachi manages captive elephants and other animals.

Keeping an elephant in captivity means housing it in a human-managed place such as a zoo, park or sanctuary. People control its food, medical treatment, movement, companions and daily surroundings. The article describes Madhubala, Noor Jehan, Sonia and Malika living in Karachi facilities after being brought from Tanzania. Their lives depended on the quality of those facilities and the care provided.

Wild elephants make their own choices about where to travel, what to eat and which members of their social group to stay with. Captive elephants cannot make those choices fully. Madhubala’s head-banging and distress after being separated from her sisters illustrate how confinement and isolation can affect behaviour. The article also connects unsuitable living conditions and malnutrition with Sonia’s death.

Captivity is not automatically identical in every facility. A well-managed sanctuary may offer more space, social contact, enrichment and specialist care than a traditional enclosure. However, the article shows that poor food, limited facilities and inadequate medical attention can make captivity dangerous for elephants.

The four African elephant calves were brought from Tanzania to Pakistan in 2009, allegedly through an animal trader. Noor Jehan and Madhubala went to Karachi Zoo. Their sisters Sonia and Malika went to Safari Park, a larger facility in the same city. The separation meant the sisters lived in different places for years.

Noor Jehan developed an infected tusk, malnutrition and stress, and died at Karachi Zoo on April 22, 2023, aged 17. Activists and Four Paws later helped prepare Madhubala to move to Safari Park. The reunion with Sonia and Malika took place in November 2024. The sisters touched trunks and drank together, but the reunion was short-lived.

Sonia collapsed and died on December 8, 2024, aged about 19. Four Paws reported a severe bacterial infection linked to an advanced foot abscess. Madhubala and Malika were diagnosed with tuberculosis, although Madhubala’s recent tests were negative. Madhubala remains under treatment, and Malika is still at Safari Park.

Madhubala’s health problems have been severe. She lost more than 200kg and became too weak to get up safely after lying down. Caregivers have treated wounds and worked to restore her ability to walk. These problems followed years in captivity and concerns about diet, stress, medical care and living conditions.

She and her sister Malika were diagnosed with tuberculosis. However, recent examinations reported by Madhubala’s veterinarian indicated that Madhubala was no longer testing positive. Her carers still say medication must be administered correctly, and all wounds require continued treatment. Amir Khalil also described using high-pressure water to massage her leg.

Her condition remains serious because recovery is incomplete and depends on consistent care. Khalil said Madhubala had recovered 85 percent of her ability to walk when he left Pakistan. The report does not give a final prognosis. Her progress will depend on medication, wound care, rehabilitation, nutrition and the facilities available at Safari Park.

Several groups are trying to save Madhubala. Pakistani and international activists campaign for better treatment and helped bring attention to the Karachi elephants. Jude Allen, who quit his corporate job after caring for Noor Jehan, now supports Madhubala. Four Paws assessed the elephants, recommended better diets and treatment, and helped organise Madhubala’s move.

Veterinarians provide specialised medical care. Amir Khalil has taken charge of parts of Madhubala’s recovery, including medication, wound treatment and high-pressure water massage for her leg. He reported that she had regained 85 percent of her walking ability. Her own veterinarian has also reported that recent tests were negative for tuberculosis.

Karachi Zoo and Safari Park authorities control the elephants’ enclosures and day-to-day institutional care. The article presents a system struggling to supply suitable facilities and attention. Activists and Four Paws therefore monitor conditions and press authorities for change. Madhubala’s recovery depends on cooperation among carers, doctors and the facilities responsible for her.

Elephants that lack proper food, medical care, movement and suitable surroundings can deteriorate physically and emotionally. The article links captive elephants’ needs to diet, enrichment, treatment and living conditions. Without those basics, animals may become malnourished, stressed, injured or unable to move safely. Isolation can also produce troubling behaviours, such as Madhubala’s reported head-banging.

The sisters provide stark examples. Noor Jehan suffered from an infected tusk, malnutrition and stress before dying in 2023. Sonia collapsed and died after a severe bacterial infection associated with an advanced foot abscess. Four Paws connected her death to prolonged unsuitable conditions and malnutrition. Madhubala lost more than 200kg, developed wounds and became too weak to rise safely.

These consequences can reinforce one another. Poor nutrition weakens the body, while untreated wounds can worsen into infections. Limited movement may make recovery harder. Madhubala’s partial recovery shows that treatment can help, but it also shows the need for sustained care. Without reliable food, medicine, monitoring and suitable facilities, her condition could worsen again.

Elephants need companionship because they are social animals that depend on contact with other elephants. They also need movement and enrichment to support healthy bodies and engaged behaviour. The article shows the consequences of missing these needs: Madhubala was alone at Karachi Zoo and reportedly banged her head against the enclosure gate. Activists said she wanted a friend.

Reuniting Madhubala with Sonia and Malika demonstrated the value of social contact. The sisters touched trunks and drank together after meeting at Safari Park. The reunion was followed by Sonia’s death, however, so companionship alone could not overcome poor health and inadequate conditions. Four Paws also recommended better diets, enrichment and medical treatment.

Alternatives to traditional zoo enclosures include larger managed facilities, social groups and sanctuaries. The article gives Kaavan as an example: Four Paws moved him from Islamabad to a sanctuary in Cambodia, where he lives with other elephants. Safari Park also offered Madhubala a chance to join her sisters. Such alternatives still require expert care and safe conditions.