Kaavan, the “world’s loneliest elephant”, has reached Cambodia from a flight all the way from Islamabad in Pakistan and will now spend his days at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in the country’s northwest.
In one part of the globe, people suffering, starving and facing the refugee crisis are being bombed every single day. But in another part, animal rights activists are determined to rescue and foster animals. A similar initiative is taken up by American singer and actress Cher, who has been campaigning for elephant’s freedom since 2016. She is the co-founder of the NGO Free The Wild. She along with local activists played a major role in relocating Kaavan.
Animal experts began the task of airlifting Kaavan on November 29, in a crate made especially for him. Kaavan’s departure from Pakistan marks the end of a campaign meant for his relocation. Cher tweeted to thank Pakistan’s prime minister for making the rescue possible.
Kaavan is titled ‘worlds loneliest elephant’ because of his sad past. According to the animal welfare organisation Four Paws, the Asian elephant Kaavan lived in the Marghazar zoo in Islamabad for nearly 30 years, where his “only companion” Saheli died in 2012. Kaavan came to the country as a gift from Sri Lanka in 1985 when he was one year old and shared his enclosure with Saheli when she came to the zoo in 1990. After her death, Kaavan was reported to be listless and even started showing signs of mental illness.
After Saheli’s death, people petitioned that Kaavan be freed, which was later amplified by Cher who has helped pay for Kaavan’s relocation. In early October, the Islamabad High Court appointed a veterinarian from Four Paws, Dr Amir Khalil, with the responsibility of undertaking the logistical organisation to move Kaavan, whose rescue has been described as the “heaviest” the organisation has undertaken.
As Pakistan’s last Asian elephant Kaavan departures, the zoo where he was housed for over three decades will close. The zoo has repeatedly called out for its poor conditions. In July this year, two lions died as a result of smoke inhalation after a fire in their enclosure. In recent years, over 500 animals have been reported missing from the zoo and over two dozen animals have died over the last four years.
Taking Kaavan to Cambodia was not an easy task. The destination was 4,000 km away, a special crate was built for the elephant, who weighs more than five tonnes and is more than three metres high. Kaavan was also trained by an elephant expert for several weeks to make sure that he enters the crate safely. On his journey till Cambodia, he was accompanied by wildlife veterinarians and over 200 kg of food.
As Kaavan reaches Cambodia safely, people hope that he rejoices and finds his peace. Kaavan’s story will be the subject of a 2021 documentary made by the Smithsonian Channel. Animal rights activists make the world a better place for animals.
Conclusion
Kaavan, the loneliest elephant in the world, has finally found a place to unite with other elephants. Animals especially elephants have been a victim of abuse for various reasons especially for tusk and aesthetic value for tourists especially in South-East Asian countries.
Kaavan was not subject to any such violence but the fact that loss of a loved one supposedly drove him to mental illness justifies that animals too feel pain and need their share of freedom, care and love.
