Around 300 students of the Beaconhouse School System have prayed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry through an application to take notice of the tragic death of a young female elephant called ‘Saheli’, allegedly due to the negligence of zoo authorities.

“Uncle judge, we are sad so please ask the capital administration and zoo authorities to free all animals back into the jungle or take care of them as parents do for long life of their children,” the students said in their application.

A student, Hasnat Hussain Shah, stated: “I enjoyed riding on ‘Saheli’ that I did often. The last time, when I visited and touched its trunk with my hands, she looked into my eyes and wanted to say something. She kept that glance on me for a long time. I never knew that I am not going to see her again.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the average normal life of an elephant is around 100 years, but ‘Saheli,’ only 28 years of age, died due to a disease for which every segment of society has been pointing finger towards the zoo authorities.

The students also pointed out that when they visited the zoo they found ‘Saheli’ wounded and it was quite surprising for them that no one was engaged in providing any kind of medical treatment to it.

According to reports, ‘Saheli’ fell down and could not stand up despite all-out efforts by the zoo administration and veterinary officers. It has been reported that a couple of weeks before her death, the right rear foot of the female elephant got wounded with some sharp object but the management did not bother to give a thought on the matter.

The young elephant was brought to Pakistan from Sri Lanka when it was only one-year-old and had been partnered with a male elephant called ‘Kavaan’ and they became the centre of attraction among visitors, especially children.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Farkhand Iqbal has already ordered an inquiry into the matter. The inquiry team is being headed by CDA Member Administration Shoukat Ali Mohmand.

One of the hundreds of comments given by the young students in their application to the chief justice of Pakistan says: “Don’t let them die. We have already lost our loving lion last year in this zoo.”