Kavaan’s journey from being the world’s “the loneliest elephant” to freedom in Cambodia has been captured on camera and will be seen in a documentary by Cher titled Cher and the Loneliest Elephant. It is scheduled to release on Paramount+ on April 22.
According to details, Cher, through the film will be taking viewers along for “a touching journey about humans, animals, and our connection to all living beings on earth”.
In Cher and the Loneliest Elephant, the singer travels to Pakistan to rescue Kaavan, an elephant who’s been neglected and living alone for years. The Smithsonian Channel documentary follows Cher as she teams up with animal experts and veterinarians to help transport Kaavan from a shed in Islamabad, where he’s been kept in chains for almost two decades, to a new home in Cambodia.
“Elephants are just like we are. They’re so family-oriented and so emotional,” says Cher in the trailer.
Talking about the film, Cher told Entertainment Weekly, “I saw all the people being affected by it all over the world. People want a happy ending. People don’t want to see animals suffer. And I know people are suffering too, but this is a story that can brighten their lives.”
“I was frightened [to do this], but then I thought, what do you want to do more? You made a promise, and you have to go,” she continued. “I didn’t see any other way to do it. I have a saying on my Twitter, ‘Stand and be counted or sit and be nothing.’ And I wasn’t going to sit and be nothing.”
The film also features a brand new track by the singer titled Walls to highlight Kavaan’s story.
https://youtu.be/2NGJwe-rdPk
Kavaan was first brought to Pakistan in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was only a year old. Since then he was living at Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad with his partner Saheli, who died in 2012. After Saheli’s death, Kaavan became alone and was dubbed as the world’s loneliest elephant. He suffered from several health issues and was also mentally distressed. In 2016 he caught the attention of Cher, who along with other animal rights activists fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.
He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane in November 2020.
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has allegedly denied international veterinarians and animal experts access to Karachi Zoo and Safari Park elephants Malika, Sonu, Noor Jahan and Madhubala, preventing them from receiving medical treatment.
In a detailed post on social media, the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which identifies itself as a body “promoting compassion towards all sentient beings,” detailed the ordeal faced by the elephants and alleged that the KMC has barred international animal experts from assessing the health of the elephants and treating them accordingly.
The animal welfare society also said that Malika’s health is in “dire straits” and requires “urgent veterinary care”.
“Her cracked tusks, broken nails, swollen legs and urine burnt feet are a testimony to the abuse she [has] suffered,” said PAWS, adding that one of Malaika’s legs is four times the size of her other legs and she appears to be unable to properly bear weight on any of her legs.
“When she walks, she hobbles along very slowly. The pads of her feet are cracked and have deep pits, which the Safari park management and elephant keeper claim to be ‘winter dryness’.”
Her plight, along with Sonu’s, Noor Jehan’s and Madhubala’s, the three other elephants in Karachi, caught the attention of the international elephant network PREN that issued a report about their captive behaviour and housing conditions. https://t.co/d9EAUHlxAx
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS said that UK-based animal rights organisation Free The Wild (FTW) offered to help the elephants and send experts to Karachi to assess the animals’ health and devise a strategy with the authorities on how to treat them. They have also been running an online donation campaign for them so that the government does not have to bear the expenses. The campaign aims to raise $30,000 and $17,637.55 were raised till the last update i.e. March 10.
According to PAWS, KMC management gave its verbal permission to Free the Wild and Dr Frank Goëritz and Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, two renowned elephant specialists to come and assess the animals’ health. They were scheduled to arrive in Karachi on February 23. However, the city government changed its decision last minute, denying them access.
On seeing Malika’s ailing health, Free The Wild @ftwglobal, a charity based in UK, offered @kmcpakistan free veterinary assessment for all 4 elephants along with capacity building and training for the keepers with no financial burden on the city government https://t.co/GkShsMVQX2
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
But the weekend before, @kmcpakistan changed their mind, saw it as an attack on their writ and made it into an issue of pride and egos.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS said that they had several rounds of meetings with KMC officials hoping to work out a solution to ease the elephants’ plight but the city government “raised objections against fundraising” claiming “that it brings a bad name to Pakistan”. PAWS also told The Current that neither the Sindh Government nor government officials have made any efforts to help the elephants and keep shutting out the animal rights body saying that “the elephants are the ‘property’ of KMC”.
We were aghast, but not surprised, at KMC’s reaction, for they are the gatekeepers singlehandedly responsible for the cruelty meted to the elephants over the last 12 years. Still, we continued to engage with their officials to work out a solution for the welfare of the elephants.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
PAWS urged the federal and provincial governments as well as Prime Minister Imran Khan to help the elephants and ease their plight.
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 11, 2021
In a statement issued by FTW, all four elephants – reportedly smuggled from Tanzania in 2009 – are held captive in small cement enclosures and chained at the feet for 15 hours a day. The wild animals are suffering from broken nails and lacerated feet due to cemented floors, cracked tusks and swollen legs from standing all day and not having any movement.
“All four elephants are showing visible signs of psychological and physical pain and urgently need our help,” reads the statement.
FTW further said that just as their vets were “preparing to leave Germany – with visas arranged, international flights booked, local accommodation reserved and, very importantly, medication purchased – KMC suddenly withheld their permission for the Free The Wild vets to enter the zoo and safari park.”
“We have arranged for Dr. Frank Goëritz and Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt – two of the world’s most renowned elephant experts and arguably amongst the most qualified specialists in regards to elephant behaviour and wellbeing, to meet Dr. Isma Gheewala in Karachi on 22 February 2021.” pic.twitter.com/TKwGWLW7gU
— Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) (@pawspakistan) March 17, 2021
Co-founder of FTW Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, while expressing her disappointment, said: “Words just cannot express how disappointed we are by the sudden lack of support. The trip was planned and even medications purchased. This is not only a major setback for the health of the elephants but also has wasted very valuable funds as the medications will expire and cannot be returned. I fail to understand why anyone bites a helping hand. This was at no cost at all to the KMC and not only would have helped these animals but also provided training for locals moving forward. I hope the petition will overcome these odd bureaucratic obstacles.”
The animal welfare body added that “we are not going to just walk away. We [will] petition Karachi courts and requesting an urgent ruling to ensure the wellbeing of these animals.”
Advocate Owais Awan, who was part of Kaavan’s legal team and helped him gain freedom while speaking to The Current said that they have no choice but to file a petition before the Honourable Sindh High Court (SHC). He asserted that the animals are suffering and need immediate medical care, which can only be provided by experts.
“I was shocked to see the state of the elephants,” said Advocate Awan. “Their enclosures and conditions were even worse than Kaavan’s. He at least had some space to walk. These elephants are kept chained all day in tiny enclosures.”
Advocate Awan explained that all four elephants are African elephants and that Pakistani vets do not have the necessary expertise to deal with their problems, adding that the team of international experts coming were not only going to check the animals but were also going to train vets and caretakers to take better care of the elephants.
KMC responds
Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, KMC spokesperson Ali Hassan Sajid trashed PAWS claims and said that the animals were doing fine.
“We have a team of vets looking after them and all the elephants are being cared for,” said Hassan. This scribe requested Hassan to share pictures of the elephants. However, they were not received till the filing of this report.
When asked about using vaseline to treat cracks in the skin – a matter which stirred outrage online – Hassan said that vaseline is applied to the animals’ toes and skin because it tends to crack up in the winters just like human skin. He said that the ointment was used to heal the dryness and proved to be very effective.
The spokesperson also launched a tirade against the animal rights body, saying that they are using the elephants to raise donations and collect money.
“Chanda akhata kar rahe hain yeh log sirf,” said Hassan, alleging that the body has raised $30,000 by deceiving people.
Sajid further said that PAWS was bringing a bad name to Pakistan with its fundraising campaign and giving out a message to the world that Pakistan cannot care for its animals.
The official also said that KMC’s legal department is working towards launching an official complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against PAWS for bringing a bad name to Pakistan.
Earlier, in December 2020, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had ordered KMC and Karachi Zoo administration to shift the 20-year-old Syrian brown bear Rano from her 25-foot wide Victorian ‘grotto’ pit to another open cage, 500 times bigger than her current enclosure. During the hearings, the court had also instructed KMC to present the zoo’s budget and had expressed anger over the fact that there was only one doctor for all animals at the zoo.
Zoos in Pakistan have long drawn international condemnation for their mistreatment of animals. Last year, on December 16, Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo was shut down after the Islamabad High Court ordered for Kaavan, the elephant and two brown bears Babloo and Suzie to be relocated to sanctuaries abroad.
2020 has pretty much been all about COVID-19 and the pandemic. The year has perhaps been one of the most challenging ones in recent times and has been difficult for everyone. As the year nears its end, The Current decided to look back and reflect upon some happy moments which brought a smile to our faces.
Kaavan’s Relocation to Cambodia
After spending years chained in Islamabad Zoo, the world’s former ‘loneliest elephant’ Kaavan was relocated to a local sanctuary in Cambodia where he will spend the rest of his days in the open and among his own. Kaavan’s freedom was assisted by American singer Cher, who came to Pakistan to personally see Kaavan off. She also welcomed the elephant in Cambodia with a very cute nameplate.
As per the latest details, Kaavan has found new friends in Cambodia and has been spotted enjoying himself at his new home.
Kavaan’s case and relocation also paved the way for other animals to be relieved of their plight. A few weeks after he left, two brown Himalayan bears at the Islamabad Zoo Suzie and Babloo were sent to a sanctuary in Jordan where they will be rehabilitated and nursed to health. Following their departure, the Islamabad Zoo was shut down.
Tough anti-rape law
The federal cabinet approved tough new anti-rape law under which special courts will be established to speed up rape trials and convicted rapists and perpetrators will be chemically castrated. It also prohibits the disclosure of the identity of rape victims and will create a national sex offenders’ register.
Increased exports
Pakistan’s exports for the month of November passed the $2 billionmark amid a resurgence of economic activity after the coronavirus lockdown. As per reports, Pakistan’s move to loosen pandemic restrictions early has helped the nation’s exports emerge stronger than its South Asian peers including India and Bangladesh.
Construction of Hindu Temple
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) approved the construction of a new temple for minority Hindus, ruling that Islamic law allows minorities a place of worship. The CII also allowed the government to hand over the temple site as well as its adjoining Dharamshala (community centre) in Saidpur village of Islamabad to the Hindu community “so that it can offer religious rites as per their beliefs”. Many people including celebrities like Hamza Ali Abbasi lauded the initiative.
Mahira Khan, Dr Sania Nishtar among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020’
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar and Mahira Khan were listed among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020‘. According to the publication, the list included “100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020”.
“This year 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times,” said the publication.
While Mahira was lauded for her outspoken views against sexual violence, refusal to endorse skin-lightening creams and supporting the fight against racism, Dr Nishtar was honoured for “spearheading the transformative Ehsaas Poverty Alleviation programme, which has improved the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis by providing mobile banking and savings accounts, and other basic resources.”
It is pertinent to add here that Mahira was also part of the inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list, along with Aiman Khan and Atif Aslam. The list highlighted celebrities from across the Asia Pacific region who have taken the digital world by storm.
Have more good news to share? Let us know in the comments.
After reports of mistreatment of animals in zoos and the successful transfer of Kaavan, Suzie and Babloo to sanctuaries abroad, Hamza Ali Abbasi took to social media and demanded zoos across Pakistan be shut down.
Quoting Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Hamza said: “IHC rules that zoos are concentration camps for non-human living beings. It’s true.”
“Caging animals for public entertainment is cruel and evil,” he continued. “Pakistan has a chance to earn the respect of the world and make God happy by freeing all the animals in captivity.”
“Close all Pak zoos please,” asserted the actor.
Abbasi also urged his fans to use the hashtag #CloseAllPakZoos to support the cause and raise their voice on the matter.
If you agree, please be the voice for those who cant speak for themselves and make this hashtag trend for as long as we can so maybe someone in the decision making arena may listen especially after IHC ruling. #CloseAllPakZoos
Earlier, the IHC while ordering the transfer of the two Himalayan bears to Jordan had said: “The natural habitat of Suzie and Bubloo was the high altitude plateau of Deosai National Park in the Himalayas. It was indeed inhumane to have deprived them of living in their natural habitat merely for the entertainment of the human species.”
“They have remained caged in the Marghazar Zoo for more than a decade. A zoo, no matter how well equipped, is no less than a concentration camp for living beings. They were born free and taking them out of their natural habitat and caging them was in violation of the natural rights bestowed upon them by the Creator.”
“They have suffered enough and they lack the ability to let the human species know what they must have gone through. Their abnormal behaviour while imprisoned was sufficient to speak volumes for the unimaginable pain and suffering.”
“The relocation of Kaavan the elephant, and the two Himalayan brown bears, Suzie and Bubloo, to appropriate sanctuaries has set a precedent for others to follow. They will always represent the people of Pakistan and their resolve to treat living species with respect and dignity,” it added.
Meanwhile, Ayesha Omar also expressed joy over the closure of Islamabad Zoo.
Earlier, Mehwish Hayat had also urged authorities to close all zoos across the country.
In a country where we’re still fighting for human rights,animal rights are a long way off. But come on,why do we only take action when foreign celebrities get involved?This is so embarrassing.Animals are born free- the authorities must shut these zoos now!https://t.co/jY6MzNXu7W
American pop singer Cher opened up and revealed how she ended up campaigning for and working towards freeing the ‘world’s loneliest elephant’ Kaavan.
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Cher said, “I didn’t plan to at all. These kids on my Twitter feed started sending this thing and it was ‘Free Kaavan’, and I thought if I will not answer, they’ll stop but they didn’t and it was in Pakistan and then I thought that I’m just an entertainer, how am I gonna go to Pakistan and free an elephant. “
“We had to work through two administrations and when [PM] Imran came in, everything got much easier,” she remarked.
Just Came From Meeting To Thank Prime Minister Imran Kahn For Making It Possible For Me To Take Kaavan To Cambodia. Kaavan Will Be Able To Leave For Cambodia On The 29. Think Documentary Will Be Heartwarming .
She also said that she worked on the cause for three years.
“As we started doing it, I wasn’t going to give up. So, we went to Pakistan and we saw him, he was beautiful,” said Cher. “We started meeting Pakistani people and they were so nice to me.”
She added: “So, then he landed and we were so excited and after a five hours drive to the sanctuary and I could see him walking around, taking a dirt bath and talking to the girls.”
.@cher is known for many things, but rescuing the world’s loneliest elephant is surely her most unexpected project yet. She explained to me how she got involved, and just what it took to re-home this incredible creature. pic.twitter.com/zcFQV9El7i
Cher has proven that she is a star in the best possible way. She worked towards freeing Kaavan, who had been named ‘the world’s loneliest animal,’ after his partner Saheli passed away in 2012. Kaavan was kept in Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo for 35 years and had been chained after zookeepers complained that he exhibited violent behaviour.
He caught Cher’s attention in 2016, who then fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.
He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane and before his departure, Cher visited Pakistan to see him off. She also sang A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes to soothe his nerves.
Last night the loneliest elephant in the world was loaded on an airplane in Islamabad. Our partner @ftwglobal and US superstar @cher met him in Cambodia.
Islamabad Zoo’s lone elephant Kavaan arrived in Cambodia on Monday, where he was taken to his new home, a wildlife sanctuary. Cher, who had long campaigned for his release, was on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia’s second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet Kaavan along with Buddhist monks, who performed rituals on his arrival.
According to details, Kavaan has already made himself at home in Cambodia and can be seen making new friends and socializing with female elephants.
“Kavaan is already socialising with neighbours: beautiful female elephants,” shared Press Officer at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Neth Pheaktra.
A very happy #Kaavan. I myself also happy to see him in form, good health and active, specially start quickly to socializing with beautiful female elephants. #Cambodiapic.twitter.com/gyBfzDNOf6
Similarly, animal rescue organisation Four Paws shared a beautiful picture of Kavaan interacting with fellow elephants in the sanctuary.
#FreeKaavan : First contact in 8 years! 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. We are extremely moved! pic.twitter.com/x5k60XTORP
Kavaan was first brought to Pakistan in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was only a year old. Since then he was living at Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad with his partner Saheli, who died in 2012. After Saheli’s death, Kaavan became alone and was dubbed as the world’s loneliest elephant. In 2016 he caught the attention of Cher, who along with other animal rights activists fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.
He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane.
#FreeKaavan : Kaavan arrived! ✈️ Last night the loneliest elephant in the world was loaded on an airplane in Islamabad. Together with the team on-site, Dr Frank Goeritz and Dr Amir Khalil were right by his side throughout the whole trip. pic.twitter.com/b1745OQFsi
“Kaavan was eating, was not stressed, he was even a little bit sleeping, standing leaning at the crate wall. He behaves like a frequent flyer,” said Kavaan’s best friend vet Dr Amir Khalil, while sharing details of his flight.
“The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant,” he added.
“Kaavan was eating, was not stressed and he even slept a little bit whilst leaning on the wall of the crate! He behaves like a ‘Frequent Flyer’”. The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant!
Popularly referred to as the world’s loneliest elephant, Islamabad Zoo’s Kavaan arrived in Cambodia by cargo plane on Monday to start a new life with fellow pachyderms at a local sanctuary, the culmination of years of campaigning for his transfer by American singer Cher.
Kaavan’s enclosure in Cambodia
According to details, Cher was on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia’s second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet Kaavan and was photographed in sunglasses, black face mask and white jacket meeting the vets who accompanied the elephant, who made the long journey in a custom-made crate.
Animal rescue organisation Four Paws said Kaavan had another 90-minute drive ahead and would likely arrive at the sanctuary after nightfall, so he would be released in daylight on Tuesday.
#FreeKaavan : Kaavan arrived! ✈️ Last night the loneliest elephant in the world was loaded on an airplane in Islamabad. Together with the team on-site, Dr Frank Goeritz and Dr Amir Khalil were right by his side throughout the whole trip. pic.twitter.com/b1745OQFsi
“Kaavan was eating, was not stressed, he was even a little bit sleeping, standing leaning at the crate wall. He behaves like a frequent flyer,” said Kavaan’s best friend vet Dr Amir Khalil.
“The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant,” he added.
Our partner NGO @ftwglobal and US-superstar @cher were awaiting the elephant in Cambodia. What an exciting day for us all…
Cher, who has long campaigned for Kaavan’s release, had spent the last few days with him in Pakistan. The multi-award-winning singer has been with a film crew documenting Kaavan’s story and said she was proud to be part of an effort to free an elephant she said had been shackled to a shed for 17 years.
Dozens of wildlife workers and experts led by Four Paws used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate before he was loaded onto the Russian-built cargo plane. A 10-member medical team also accompanied the 36-year-old elephant on his journey.
Two days before Kaavan is expected to fly to Cambodia, where he will retire in a wildlife sanctuary, US pop star Cher met Prime Minister Imran Khan and thanked him for his efforts in making this possible. The singer, who has campaigned for Kaavan’s freedom for years and is helping pay for his move, arrived in Pakistan this week to see the animal off.
“Just came from meeting to thank PM Imran Khan for making it possible for me to take Kaavan to Cambodia,” said Cher in a tweet.
Just Came From Meeting To Thank Prime Minister Imran Kahn For Making It Possible For Me To Take Kaavan To Cambodia. Kaavan Will Be Able To Leave For Cambodia On The 29. Think Documentary Will Be Heartwarming .
Meanwhile, a statement from PM Khan’s office said that the prime minister appreciated Cher’s efforts in retiring Kaavan to an elephant sanctuary and thanked the singer for her campaign and role in this regard.
The Prime Minister observed that it was indeed a happy moment for all of us that after giving joy and happiness to the people of Islamabad and Pakistan for about 35 years, Kaavan will now be able to retire with other elephants in a specialized sanctuary in Cambodia.
According to the PM Office, Cher also appreciated PM Khan’s efforts in combating climate change and working towards a cleaner and greener Pakistan.
“She also offered her support for furthering the green initiatives through her organisation ‘Free the Wild,’ added the PM office.
She said that both the “Protected Areas Initiative” and the “10 Billion Tree Tsunami” initiative of the government were highly commendable and praiseworthy as nature based tools for climate mitigation.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, who was also present at the meeting, also thanked the US singer for coming to Pakistan to see the elephant off.
As per details, 36-year-old Kaavan is set to fly out of Pakistan on November 29 on a Russian cargo plane, specially chartered for his transportation.
A team of vets and experts from Four Paws, an Austria-based animal welfare group, has spent months working with Kaavan to get him ready for the journey to Cambodia. Experts have trained Kaavan to enter a large metal crate that will be used to transport the animal to the airport.
Kaavan was also put on a diet of fruit and vegetables and has lost half a ton (450 kilograms). Previously, Kaavan was eating 250 kilograms (550 pounds) of pure sugar cane every day, with an occasional fruit and vegetable.
“All arrangements have been made, a Russian plane has been chartered that will land at Rawalpindi’s military (Chaklala Airport) in the morning of November 29, the same evening Kaavan will depart the Marghazar Zoo at 3 PM in VIP protocol paying his last regards to the city where he was brought as a calf from Sri Lanka in 1985. Kaavan was brought up at the same Marghazar Zoo. Here he had a female companion Saheli who later died of gangrene in 2012,” shared Director of the Four Paws Project Dr Amir Khalil.
“Now at the age of 36, Kaavan is leaving for yet another home into retirement,” said Dr Khalil.
The doctor added that there are many elephants at the sanctuary, but in particular three female elephants are awaiting Kaavan’s arrival. He joked that Kaavan might just find a girlfriend there.
On November 24, Islamabad Zoo gave Kaavan a farewell party, which was attended by the public and government officials. The party was held right outside Kaavan’s enclosure and also included performances by Haroon, Natasha Baig, Khumaariyan and Arieb Azhar.
Later, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also paid a visit to Islamabad Zoo to bid farewell to Kaavan. During his visit, President Alvi said that he hopes that Kaavan finds happiness in Cambodia.
American music sensation Cher, who has long been campaigning for Kaavan’s release will reportedly be arriving in Pakistan on November 27 to see the elephant off.
According to a report in Gulf News, Cher is arriving in Islamabad on November 27 to see Kaavan off as he leaves for Cambodia, where he will spend the rest of his life in a wildlife reserve. The singer says that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that she “will sob” when she sees him for the first time.
Just saw Kaavan made a little Video. He’s SO PRECIOUS. I Will SOB WHEN I SEE HIM 4 THE FIRST TIME Maybe I’ll need a Take 2 . IM STARTING TO GET SO EXCITED
Earlier, the singer had revealed that she had composed two songs for Kaavan.
“Can’t wait to sing to him on way to Cambodia,” Cher had said in a tweet.
36-year-old Kaavan is being relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia for retirement after the Islamabad High Court in May this year ruled that the Margazhar Zoo is not fit for animals. Kaavan has spent most of his life in a small enclosure with meagre shelter, and the last eight years alone after his companion elephant Saheli died. The court’s decision came after a four-year global campaign, backed by Cher. He is set to fly out of Pakistan on November 29 on a Russian cargo plane, specially chartered for his transportation.
Kaavan’s travelling crate
“All arrangements have been made, a Russian plane has been chartered that will land at Rawalpindi’s military (Chaklala Airport) in the morning of November 29, the same evening Kaavan will depart the Marghazar Zoo at 3 PM in VIP protocol paying his last regards to the city where he was brought as a calf from Sri Lanka in 1985. Kaavan was brought up at the same Marghazar Zoo. Here he had a female companion Saheli who later died of gangrene in 2012,” shared Director of the Four Paws Project Dr Amir Khalil. Four Paws International, the global animal welfare organisation in collaboration with another animals’ rights group, Free the Wild, has raised funds for the relocation of the elephant from Pakistan to Cambodia.
“Now at the age of 36, Kaavan is leaving for yet another home into retirement,” added Dr Khalil.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Zoo on Monday gave a farewell party to Kaavan which was attended by the public and government officials. The party was held right outside Kaavan’s enclosure and also included performances by Haroon, Natasha Baig, Khumaariyan and Arieb Azhar.
— Ministry of Climate Change & EC Govt of Pakistan (@ClimateChangePK) November 24, 2020
Speaking at the farewell, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said: “It is a sad but the right step to send off the animal to a sanctuary where it will be in a much bigger space and with its own kind.”
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan, who was also at the event, tweeted: “Sorry and farewell to Kaavan as our dearest (from childhood) is off to Cambodia.”
..preserve the ecological habitats & wildlife while focusing on eco tourism & nature conservation. Kavaan-we all remember from our childhood ll surely b missing Saheli who remained his partner here frm 1990to2002(untill her death) Kavaan ll join his new friends in Cambodia. @cherpic.twitter.com/u2bwwuRVe8
Later, President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi also paid a visit to Islamabad to bid farewell to Kaavan.
During his visit, President Alvi said that he hopes that Kaavan finds happiness in Cambodia.
President Dr. Arif Alvi paid a visit to Islamabad Zoo to pay farewell to Kaavan- the elephant. He was briefed about the arrangements for Kaavan’s transportation to Cambodia. pic.twitter.com/B33tn8sTEx
Retirement of Kaavan to Cambodia is a result of consideration of the feelings of animals. Mohd bin Musa Al-Damiri wrote a book حیات الحیوان in 14th century. In intro he says that he wants to change wrong human beliefs about animals. That they have intelligence and strong feelings https://t.co/jHtRxg8MBf
American singer Cher, who has long campaigned for Kaavan’s freedom has said she cannot wait to sing for Islamabad Zoo’s lone elephant, who caught international attention in recent years for his mistreatment. Kaavan is all set to leave for a wildlife reserve in Cambodia, where he will spend the rest of his life.
Sharing pictures of Kaavan’s travel crate on Twitter, Cher said: “Can’t wait to sing to him on way to Cambodia. I have two songs.”
AHHH KAAVAN’S TRAVELING CRATE & HOME WHEN HE GETS TO CAMBODIA. ITS LIKE A DOG CRATE. A VERY HUGE DOG CRATE. IN BEGINNING IT WILL MAKE HIM FEEL-SAFE & COMFORTABLE . CANT WAIT TO SING TO HIM ON WAY TO CAMBODIA.I HAVE TWO SONGS pic.twitter.com/SwQCO55veo
Kaavan is reportedly very fond of music and his vet Amir Khalil has revealed that the elephant is a Frank Sinatra fan and that the singer’s music calms him down. Khalil, who was tasked with assessing whether Kaavan can be moved from Islamabad Zoo to a sanctuary in Cambodia, shared that when he arrived in Pakistan, he started to train the elephant by singing to him.
In a separate tweet replying to a fan, she said “I’ll be there,” hinting that she would be in Cambodia when Kaavan arrived there.
36-year-old Kaavan is being relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia for retirement after the Islamabad High Court in May this year ruled that the Margazhar Zoo is not fit for the animals. Kaavan has spent most of his life in a small enclosure with meager shelter, and the last eight years alone after his companion elephant died. The court’s decision came after a four-year global campaign, backed by Cher.
Earlier, Adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam had said authorities would “ensure that he lives a happy life”.
“We are bidding Kaavan farewell with a heavy heart. It is a sad decision,” he had said, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan was also concerned about Kaavan’s well-being.
