ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani veterinary surgeons found that a bacterial infection killed an elephant at a safari park in the city of Karachi earlier this month, a veterinarian with a global animal welfare organization said Wednesday.
Dr. Amir Khalil with the Vienna-based Four Paws told The Associated Press that the infection spread through 19-year-old Sonia’s body from her foot, raising concerns about how Pakistani authorities handle animals “as such infections don’t spread in one day.”
“We are very sad for Sonia,” he said, as criticism from animal lovers grew on social media about the neglect.
Four Paws said in a statement the autopsy was conducted last week and that Sonia's death was the consequence “of prolonged species-inappropriate living conditions and malnutrition ... This heartbreaking outcome underscores once again the urgent need for proper elephant management.”
There was no immediate comment from Pakistani officials, including the director of the safari park, Syed Amjad Hussain Zaidi, who had earlier said that the animal was healthy and died suddenly.
An African elephant's average lifespan is usually between 60 and 70 years in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund, and a bit shorter in captivity. Sonia, a small adult, was brought to Pakistan in 2009 with three other elephants. One of her companions, Noor Jahan, died at a Karachi zoo last year at the age of 17.
Sonia was recently reunited with her sister Madhubala, who was transferred from Karachi Zoological Garden last month to be with her family. Madhubala was separated from sisters Sonia and Malika about 15 years ago.
Four Paws, which made the post-mortem available on Tuesday, said the “microbiological results from Sonia’s autopsy revealed the presence of various bacteria. The source of the bacteria was an advanced abscess on Sonia’s foot which was recently discovered and treated during our stay for Madhubala’s relocation".
It also said Khalil sent a “prophylactic treatment plan" for Malika and Madhubala to authorities, urgently recommending antibiotic treatment, alongside blood tests for both elephants before and after the treatment.
Khalil said he planned to visit Pakistan in February to examine the remaining elephants but Sonia's death showed that better care was needed for the animals.
Pakistan has a troubled history with elephants in captivity.
In 2020, Kaavan, dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant” after languishing alone for years in a Pakistani zoo, was sent to a Cambodian sanctuary for the much-needed company of other elephants.
Efforts to transfer Kaavan from Pakistan were supported by singer and actor Cher, who campaigned for his rescue.
Elephants are seen at the safari park in Karachi, Pakistan, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2025--
Resecurity, a global cybersecurity and threat intelligence company trusted by Fortune 100 enterprises and government agencies, has joined the U.S.-Saudi Business Council (USSBC) as a Chairman’s Circle member — the Council’s highest membership tier that brings together industry leaders advancing innovation, defense, and cross-border investment between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Founded in 1993, the U.S.-Saudi Business Council is the first and only institution created specifically to advance private-sector partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States. With offices in Washington, D.C. and Riyadh, the Council connects senior executives, investors, and policymakers from leading American and Saudi organizations across diverse sectors. Its mission is to facilitate partnerships, foster innovation, and strengthen the economic relationship that underpins the long-standing U.S.-Saudi alliance.
“Joining the Chairman’s Circle aligns with our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation and to trusted cross-border partnerships,” said Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity. “Cybersecurity is a prerequisite for economic growth and modern digital ecosystem. We look forward to contributing intelligence-driven capabilities that help protect critical infrastructure, financial systems, and innovation initiatives across the Kingdom and the broader region.”
Charles S. Hallab, President and CEO of the U.S.-Saudi Business Council, said: “We are pleased to welcome Resecurity as a Chairman’s Circle member. Their commitment to strengthening cybersecurity capabilities aligns well with the Council’s mission of advancing high-impact U.S.–Saudi partnerships. We look forward to their engagement and to the contributions they will bring to our members and the broader business community.”
This step builds on Resecurity’s ongoing collaboration with the Council and partners from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underscoring cybersecurity as one of the key drivers of national resilience, digital sovereignty, and technology excellence in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
About U.S.-Saudi Business Council
The U.S.-Saudi Business Council, “the Council,” was established as a non-profit organization in 1993 as a spin-off of the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Joint Economic Commission, a technical assistance initiative between the Saudi Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. To learn more, visit https://ussaudi.org.
About Resecurity
Resecurity® is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified endpoint protection, fraud prevention, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence platform. Known for providing best-of-breed, data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity’s services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world’s most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, by Inc. Magazine, Resecurity was named one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California. Resecurity is a member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC, and multiple American Chambers of Commerce globally, including AmChamKSA. To learn more, visit https://resecurity.com.
Resecurity Joined the U.S.-Saudi Business Council as a Chairman's Circle Member
