Key Takeaways
- Dr Buddhika Bandara, a Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist, returned home after working on Madhubala’s health.
- Local authorities did not inform Dr Bandara about working with Dr Amir Khalil from Four Paws.
- Madhubala, an ailing elephant at Safari Park, continues to face health issues.
Dr Buddhika Bandara, a Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist, left for home on Friday after working on the health of Madhubala, an ailing elephant at Safari Park, under unclear circumstances.
Sources told Dawn that Dr Bandara was not informed about working with Dr Amir Khalil of the global animal welfare organisation Four Paws, which raised concerns among local authorities and the public.
The KMC spokesperson, Daniyal Siyal, stated that Dr Bandara had been monitoring Madhubala’s TB treatment online since his first visit over a year ago and had to leave due to the sudden death of his family member in Colombo.
Despite the KMC’s explanation, sources expressed concern over the fact that the Safari Park authorities kept Four Paws out for over a year, a critical time during which Madhubala received TB treatment and later developed multiple infections and acute weakness.
The foreign experts were invited by local authorities after Safari Park’s veterinarians had failed to diagnose the factors behind Madhubala’s ongoing health crisis. Madhubala has experienced drastic weight loss in recent months and collapsed twice in her enclosure.
Dr Amir Khalil, who is working with Madhubala, stated that multiple bacterial and parasitic infections and the weakness that followed treatment for tuberculosis have caused Madhubala to lose significant weight. Additionally, she seems to suffer from a linear fracture in the carpal joint.
Local authorities and the KMC spokesperson have extended all support to Dr Khalil, who is currently working on Madhubala’s health.
The situation has raised concerns over the administrative affairs at Safari Park and the ongoing health crisis confronting the ailing elephant.
