The National Veterinary Laboratory Friday revealed that Saheli, a female elephant, at Margazar Zoo died of heart failure, giving a twist to the probe and widening its scope to CDA’s veterinary experts. The autopsy has been carried out by the experts of the NVL on the samples from the animal’s carcass after it had died in mysterious circumstances on May 1 after brief illness. According to the report, Saheli’s respiratory system had failed after it had laid down during her illness causing distress to the breathing system. According to the vet experts, the elephant’s respiratory system is quite exceptional as it lacks a pleural cavity and lungs are directly attached to the walls of the chest cavity. Elephant’s respiratory movements are only dependent on chest musculature as there is no system of pumping the lungs by negative pressure in the pleural cavity like other mammals. Keeping in view the unique physique, the vet authorities recommend the zoo-keepers not to allow the animal lay in a position that may suppress its chest. In such case, the elephant would find it difficult to breathe even if it is placed under the pressure of animal’s own body. The heart of an elephant usually weighs up to 28 kilograms but it beats much slower but harder than that of other mammals. The elephant’s heart produces a strong, prolonged beat approximately 28 times a minute against the human heart that beats 70 times a minute. CDA’s Director General Environment Sheikh Suleman said the report would be forwarded to the inquiry committee headed by Member Administration Shaukat Mohmand. He said the committee’s formation is yet to be finalized that would examine the report from all aspects and fix responsibility. However, he said the veterinary experts were supposed to take care of the animal not to allow her lay in disallowed posture as they better knew such implications. Confirming the report, Saleem Ansari, a veterinary doctor at Margazar Zoo said Saheli might have laid down on right posture disallowed for her to avoid blockade of the respiratory system. He said during her illness, they could not ensure when the animal changed her posture; however adding that the report has ruled out any suspicion that Saheli could have been poisoned. Ansari confirmed that the elephant had improved after she fell ill owing to wound in her leg, adding that Saheli had also taken food at the day of her death. However, the CDA bosses could not learn lesson from the loss of a female elephant as her male partner, Kavan, has also fallen ill now. By temperament, Kavan is aggressive and unfriendly who is said to be handled well only by a head mahout who had been suspended along with another colleague after Saheli’s death.
