{
  "id": 13630567,
  "title": "Sri Lankan vet returns home amid concerns over Madhubala’s health",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/sri-lankan-vet-returns-home-amid-concerns-over-madhubalas-health",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T03:25:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2036212/sri-lankan-vet-returns-home-amid-concerns-over-madhubalas-health"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist Dr Buddhika Bandara abruptly left Sri Lanka for home on Friday amid growing concerns over the health of Madhubala, the ailing elephant in Karachi's Safari Park. The sudden departure has raised questions about the administration of Safari Park and the ongoing health crisis faced by the elephant. Local authorities did not inform Dr Bandara that he would be collaborating with Dr Amir Khalil from the global animal welfare organization Four Paws.\n\nThe absence of communication between the two parties has damaged trust, reportedly forcing Dr Bandara to leave quietly. Madhubala's deteriorating condition, which may have troubled Dr Bandara, was not adequately addressed during his visit. Journalists were surprised by Dr Bandara's reluctance to speak at Friday's press conference, despite multiple requests for him to share his clinical observations on Madhubala.\n\nDr Bandara's decision to leave was attributed to the death of a family member in Colombo. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's spokesperson confirmed that Dr Bandara had been monitoring Madhubala's tuberculosis treatment online since his first visit over a year ago. He had previously stayed with Safari Park for 17 days last year and was expected to stay for at least a week this time. However, his return was unexpected.\n\nMadhubala, a female African elephant, has experienced drastic weight loss and has collapsed twice in her enclosure. Multiple bacterial and parasitic infections, along with weakness resulting from tuberculosis treatment, have contributed to her severe condition. Dr Khalil revealed that Madhubala also suffers from a linear fracture in her carpal joint. The foreign experts were extended support after Safari Park vets failed to diagnose the factors behind Madhubala's health crisis.",
  "summary": "KARACHI: Sri Lankan wildlife health specialist Dr Buddhika Bandara, who had joined efforts to save Madhubala on Friday, left for home the same day under unclear circumstances, raising concern over Safari Park’s administrative affairs as well as the ongoing health crisis confronting the ailing elephant, it emerged on Saturday. Sources told Dawn that local authorities had not informed the visiting…",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr Buddhika Bandara left Sri Lanka unexpectedly for Madhubala's health concerns.",
    "Madhubala, the ailing elephant, suffers from tuberculosis and multiple infections.",
    "Dr Bandara's departure was due to a family member's death in Colombo."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Dr Buddhika Bandara's sudden departure from Karachi's Safari Park heightens concerns over Madhubala's care and raises questions about the park's administration and its handling of the ailing elephant's health crisis.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Sri Lankan vet returns home amid concerns over Madhubala’s health",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/sri-lankan-vet-returns-home-amid-concerns-over-madhubalas-health-13633760",
        "published": "2026-10-11T03:25:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}