LONELIEST ELEPHANT HEADS TO CAMBODIA
Kaavan embarks on a mammoth move from Pakistan to retire
islamabad — Following years of public outcry and campaigning by US pop star Cher, the “world’s loneliest elephant” embarked on Sunday on a mammoth move from Pakistan to retirement in a Cambodian sanctuary.
Cher has spent recent days at the Islamabad zoo to provide moral support to Kaavan — an overweight, 36-yearold bull elephant — whose treatment at the zoo sparked an uproar from animal rights groups and a spirited social media campaign by Cher.
“My wishes have finally come true”, Cher said in a statement thanking her charity Free The Wild. “We have been counting down to this moment and dreaming of it for so long and to finally see Kaavan transported out of (the Islamabad) zoo will remain with us forever.”
Kaavan’s case and the woeful conditions at the zoo resulted in a judge this year ordering all the animals to be moved. “Thanks to Cher and also to local Pakistani activists, Kaavan’s fate made headlines around the globe and this contributed to the facilitation of his transfer,” said Martin Bauer, a spokesman for Four Paws International — an animal welfare group that has spearheaded the relocation effort.
Experts spent hours coaxing a slightly sedated Kaavan into a specially constructed metal crate — at one point using ropes to help pull him in — that was to be hoisted onto a lorry and taken to Islamabad airport.
From there, Kaavan will be sent via a Russian transport jumbo jet for the lengthy flight to Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia.
Cher spent several days in Islamabad to visit Kaavan before the trip to a 10,000-hectare Cambodian wildlife sanctuary, with Prime Minister Imran Khan personally thanking the 74-year-old star.
Cher was due to fly to Cambodia on Sunday to be in the Southeast Asian nation when the elephant arrives.
Officials said Kaavan will initially be kept in a small designated section of the park where he can see other elephants.
“Sending him to a place where he can be with other elephants of his kind ... is really the right choice,” climate change minister Malik Amin Aslam said.
“We will be happy to see him happy in Cambodia and we hope he finds a partner very soon.” —