Camel Chandni maimed in Sukkur set to walk again with prosthetic limb

KARACHI: Chandni, the young camel who suffered severe abuse after straying into a landlord’s field in Sukkur, is showing signs of recovery. According to a news report by dawn, Chandni may also be able to walk again with the help of a prosthetic limb within two months.

Also read: Camel battles for life after brutal abuse by landlord in Sukkur

The 18-month-old female camel, formerly known as Sumi, underwent a complex two-hour surgical operation on Friday at a shelter in Karachi run by the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS). The operation was conducted by a team of veterinary experts from the Sindh Livestock and Fisheries Department, marking the second such procedure performed in recent months.

According to officials, the surgery involved the amputation of Chandni’s right hind leg, which had lost all sensation and was at risk of spreading a parasitic blood infection that had already led to dangerously low haemoglobin levels. The amputation was carried out to both save her life and halt the progression of the infection, which is still being treated.

Veterinarians also addressed multiple fractures in her jaw using specialised bone pinning techniques, a method where a metal rod is inserted to stabilise broken bone fragments. The surgery was described as both bloodless and painless, performed under a combination of local and dissociative anesthesia.

“Chandni is now stable, out of immediate danger, and fully conscious,” one official involved in the treatment said, adding that the camel is currently under round-the-clock observation at the CDRS shelter in Murad Memon Goth. A dedicated care unit has been established for her recovery, with specialists monitoring her vital signs and ensuring she receives proper nutrition and medical care.

According to the post-surgery report, she is expected to begin swallowing food within two days and transition to solid food in about three to five weeks. If her condition continues to improve, she will be assessed for prosthetic limb fitting within two months.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has directed authorities to ensure Chandni receives the best possible care during her recovery.

Chandni’s case sparked widespread outrage after it was reported that she had been attacked with an axe and dragged by a tractor by men who claimed she had damaged their crops in the Januji area of Salehpat, Sukkur. Two of the three accused have since been arrested, according to police.

Also read: Prosthetic leg allows amputated camel to stand for the first time in a year

This is not the first such incident in Sindh. In July, another female camel named Cammie was subjected to a similar attack in Sanghar for grazing on private farmland. She later underwent surgery and was fitted with a prosthetic leg, allowing her to walk again.