Four young African elephants have arrived at a safari park in Karachi, Pakistan. The housing looks far from ideal.
At the very least they could let the elephants mingle together without bars between them I suppose they were cull rescues?
No. The Tanzanian Government was paid to capture juvenile elephants for the zoo. Until recently, this was considered unacceptable, but now it seems to be big business again.
I think these pens are quarantine enclosures for the elephants, this is confirmed by this article. 4 baby elephants arrive in City | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
Whereas I know the SAZARC is developing its zoos progressively, I would rather that these zoos would concentrate on preserving the local fauna and flora first, introduce basic and minimum husbandry standards and adequate exhibit design, before indulging in acquisition of exotic species. I cannot make any informed judgement on this particular facility as I lack sufficient annual data on acquisitions, transfers, births and deaths at the facility. However, I personally know of an earlier import for Karachi Zoo - if I am correct - from South Africa where at least 10-15 individuals on import died with 30-45 days from import. This clearly indicates a lack of adequate quaraintine procedures, trained staff and inadequate exhibit design. Hence, I will follow this import very closely with the Karachi Zoo and Safari Park.
Rhino, hippo and giraffe will follow soon Rhino, hippopotamus soon at Safari Park | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online
Here is an update on the 4 African elephant calves. Baby elephants at Safari Park en route to complete acclimatisation
The safari park has completed an enclosure for 2 of the elephants the other 2 have been shipped to Karachi zoo in 2010. New enclosures: Safari Park makes room for elephants – The Express Tribune
If you read on you will find that the zoo now only has one elephant (where the 2 females were sent to). It seems that conditions in the safari park are better, but I would think 1.1 is not a social group … (and the female now residing int a sub-standard enclosure in the zoo would be best coming back).
5 pelicans 'disappeared' : Five pelicans at Safari Park go ‘missing’ - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
Weapons found at the Safari Park : Rangers recover huge cache of weapons in raid at Karachi's Safari Park
Read this: among the weapons found at the site were anti-aircraft guns, rifles, SMGs, LMGs, hand grenades and snipers. A large quantity of different types of bullets and cartridges were also recovered from the location. A safari park?