The ‘loneliest elephant in the world’ has a love interest at his new home in Cambodia after conservationists and singer Cher won a legal battle to set him free.
Asian elephant Kaavan, 35, lived alone in deplorable conditions in Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo after his mate died, allegedly of sepsis, in 2012, making him the only elephant in Pakistan.
Branded the loneliest elephant in the world by international media, the case caught the attention of singer Cher who even joined the legal battle to get the zoo to release him.
Cher said in an interview that she got involved in the matter because her Twitter followers kept messaging her about the elephant.
After five years, the High Court of Pakistan finally agreed to release Kaavan from his lonely cage in the zoo and the elephant was sent to the Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in the north-western Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey.
Cher even flew over to accompany him on the trip to his new home.
Cambodian Environment Minister Neth Pheaktra said in a statement: “Kaavan has been called the loneliest elephant in the world. He is not lonely anymore…
“The team of conservationists who rescued him from a zoo in Pakistan prevailed in a legal battle, and the High Court of Pakistan decided to set Kaavan free and send him to live in our wildlife sanctuary.”
Wildlife sanctuary president Sok Hong said that Kaavan is for now staying in an enclosure away from the other elephants, where he can adjust until he is ready to socialise.
Sok said: “I think it will not be long because this elephant has already been domesticated to some extent. Our immediate plan is to feed and train him to live like the other wild animals.
“Elephants are emotional creatures with caring hearts like humans. And before Kaavan arrived here, he lost his loving partner. He still misses his mate.
“However, now we can see that he is interested in interacting with one of the three females.”
After many years of suffering on his own, Sok said they hope that Kaavan will be ready in a few months time to live freely with the three females, including the one that has already caught his eye.
The Asian elephant is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and the population has declined by 50 percent or more over the last three elephant generations.
The ministry for environment have a 10-year action plan to try and save the wild elephant population in Cambodia, where there are estimated to be only 400 to 600 left.
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Story By: Lisa-Maria Goertz, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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