Elephants of Pakistan

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The following is a list of elephants, current and past, kept in captivity in Pakistan.

Bahawalpur zoo

• 0,0,2 Asian elephants donated by the Nawab of Bahawalpur (date unknown), died 1983 and 2003. 1 preserved as a mounted skeleton at PMNH, Islamabad.

Karachi safari park

• 0,3 African elephants imported from Tanzania, 2009:
  • Malka;
  • Madhubala – transferred from Karachi zoo, 2024;
  • Sonia, died 2024.

Karachi zoo

• 0,2 African elephants imported from Tanzania, 2009:
  • Madhubala – transferred to Karachi safari park, 2024;
  • Noor Jehan, died 2023.
• 0,3 Asian elephants:
  • Mato and Saleen imported in 1955 (both deceased, dates unknown);
  • Anarkali born ~1941 in the wild in Burma, captured in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and imported to Karachi in the 1950s. Died 2006, skull preserved at Karachi zoo.

Lahore zoo

• 1,1 Asian elephants, imported some time before the 1960s (source unknown):
  • Rustam♂, killed by police in early 1970s after going on a rampage; preserved as a mounted skeleton at FCC University, Lahore.
  • Rani♀, died 1987.
• 0,1 African elephant:
  • Suzi, imported from Zimbabwe, 1988. Died May, 2017.

Marghazar zoo, Islamabad

• 1,1 Asian elephants imported from Sri Lanka:
  • Kaavan♂, imported 1985, transferred to Cambodia wildlife sanctuary, 2020;
  • Saheli♀, imported 1991, died 2012.

Rani Bagh zoo, Hyderabad might have also had elephants at some point.

 

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Amendments

Bahawalpur zoo

• 0,0,2 Asian elephants donated by the Nawab of Bahawalpur (date unknown), died 1983 and 2003. 1 preserved as a mounted skeleton at PMNH, Islamabad.

• 1,1 Asian elephants donated by the Nawab of Bahawalpur (date unknown):
  • Akbar♂, died 2003;
  • 0,1, died 1983; preserved as a mounted skeleton at PMNH, Islamabad.

Marghazar zoo, Islamabad

• 1,1 Asian elephants imported from Sri Lanka:
  • Kaavan♂, imported 1985, transferred to Cambodia wildlife sanctuary, 2020;
  • Saheli♀, imported 1991, died 2012.

• Saheli♀, imported 1991, died 2012; possibly preserved as a taxidermy at PMNH, Islamabad (currently off-display).

 

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Amendments

Karachi zoo

• 0,3 Asian elephants:
  • Mato and Saleen imported in 1955 (both deceased, dates unknown);
  • Anarkali born ~1941 in the wild in Burma, captured in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and imported to Karachi in the 1950s. Died 2006, skull preserved at Karachi zoo.

• 1,2 Asian elephants:
  • Anarkali♀, born ~1941 in the wild in Burma, captured in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and imported to Karachi in 1958. Died 2006, skull preserved at Karachi zoo;
  • Mato♀, imported from Burma (Myanmar), 1955 (deceased, date unknown);
  • Saleem♂, imported from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), 1955. Sold to Rani Bagh zoo, Hyderabad, 1962.

Rani Bagh zoo, Hyderabad might have also had elephants at some point.

Rani Bagh zoo

• 1,0 Asian elephant:
  • Saleem, bought from Karachi zoo, 1962. Deceased, date unknown (likely put down).

 

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Amendments and corrections

Lahore zoo

• 1,1 Asian elephants, imported some time before the 1960s (source unknown)

• 2,2 Asian elephants:
  • Benazir♂, acquired in 1947/48, formerly privately owned. Died 1958 of natural causes, preserved as a mounted skeleton at FCC University, Lahore;
  • Rustam/Shahzoor♂, born ~1954 in the wild. Captured from Chittagong, East Pakistan in 1957. Put down in 1968;
  • Lakhi Rani♀, acquired ~1958, source unknown. Died 1986;
  • Unknown female, acquired some time between 1948 and 1957. Died some time before 1957.