World’s Loneliest Elephant is No Longer Lonely

Kaavan, is now the former loneliest elephant in the world after it finds its new home in Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary after it was confined at the Marghazar Zoo in Pakistan for over three decades. Also, Kaavan has been lonely since 2012 after Saheli, another elephant from Bangladesh and his companion for 22 years, died after it developed an infection from the cuts caused by its chain.

Details About Kaavan

Here are more information about Kaavan according to FOUR PAWS International (FPI):

• In 1985, Kaavan at just a year old was gifted from the Sri Lankan government to the government of Pakistan in order to build relations between the two countries.
• In 1990, Kaavan at six years old was joined by another elephant named Saheli from Bangladesh.
• Saheli and Kaavan were together for 22 years.
• In 2012, Saheli died due to an infection caused by her chains.
• Kaavan has been confined for over three decades to an enclosure at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan.
• Kaavan is Pakistan’s last Asian elephant.
• Dr. Samar Khan, a student in Pakistan, heard about Kaavan and was joined by a large community of Pakistani’s to share his plight, which triggered what began a long fight to free him from Kaavan’s  misery.
• American superstar, Cher, and her organization, Free The Wild, began campaigning to help Kaavan.
• In 2020, the Islamabad High Court issued a decision for the immediate relocation and FOUR PAWS was asked to step in.

Former Enclosure of Kaavan

This is the former enclosure of Kaavan in Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad and for the first time in 35 years it will be empty as Kaavan has been relocated to its new home in Cambodia.

Photo Source: FOUR PAWS

Before the trip of Kaavan to Cambodia, an elephant expert trained the elephant for weeks for it to safely enter the transport crate. According to FOUR PAWS veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil and responsible for the evacuation of Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, he stated that “In the past weeks I have spent almost every day with Kaavan, talking and singing Frank Sinatra songs to him. This may seem absurd to outsiders, but it allowed me to build a close relationship with the elephant. Now he is ready to work with his trainer. As his personal physician, I will not leave Kaavan’s side during his entire journey.”

“It fills me with incredible joy to see that Kaavan’s suffering is finally coming to an end. I cannot wait to bring him to Cambodia together with the FOUR PAWS team. For the past four years my partners in Free The Wild – Mark, Gina and I – have been working tirelessly to achieve this moment. ‘Free Kaavan’ will soon no longer be just a hashtag, but reality. And that makes me extremely proud and happy”

-Cher, US superstar and co-founder of Free The Wild.

Arrival of Kaavan in Cambodia

This video shows the arrival of Kaavan in his new home in the sanctuary in Cambodia.

“It is already dark and difficult to see, but we still want to make sure you are a part of this milestone – Kaavan stepping foot into the sanctuary in Cambodia for the first time. After a long journey from Pakistan, he was now able to leave his transport crate and enjoyed a warm welcome with delicious treats such an banana leaves and fruit cake which had been made especially for him. Tomorrow, in the daylight, we will try to capture Kaavan getting to know his new friends. We really hope he will like his new home and adapt to the new environment. “

-FOUR PAWS

Lonely No More

Photo Source: FOUR PAWS

This is a photo by FPI that shows Kaavan’s first contact with another elephant in eight years and he is now the former loneliest elephant in the world.

“We can now officially call him the “former loneliest elephant in the world”! Seeing Kaavan interacting with other elephants is a huge moment for us but more importantly for Kaavan. This is his first contact with an elephant in eight years. The whole FOUR PAWS team is extremely moved and we could not be prouder. Kaavan will finally have the chance to live a species-appropriate and peaceful life.”

-FPI

Get to know more about the journey of Kaavan in this Illustration by Julia Lohninger.

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Source: FOUR PAWS International