KARACHI, Pakistan — An elephant named Sonia passed away on Sunday due to what appears to be heart failure, as reported by a local official. This sad event occurred just days after she was joyfully reunited with her sister, Madhubala.

Sonia, who was nearly 19 years old, marks the second elephant death in a span of two years in Karachi, where she had resided since 2009. Madhubala was moved from the Karachi Zoological Garden a month ago to reconnect with her sisters after being separated for almost 15 years. The family had previously included another sister, Malika.

Syed Amjad Hussain Zaidi, director of the safari park, stated that the findings from Sonia’s post-mortem examination would be released in the following days to provide more clarity regarding her sudden demise.

Historically, Pakistan has faced significant challenges regarding the care of elephants in captivity. For instance, 17-year-old Noor Jehan was brought to Karachi along with three other elephants over a decade ago but passed away in April 2023 shortly after undergoing a major medical procedure carried out by an international team of veterinarians.

Additionally, in 2020, Kaavan, an elephant who earned the nickname “the world’s loneliest elephant” for years of solitary confinement in a Pakistani zoo, was relocated to a sanctuary in Cambodia, where he could enjoy the company of other elephants. The movement was bolstered by a vocal campaign from singer and actress Cher, who advocated for his liberation and wellbeing.