After years of ordeal and thanks to an impressive mobilization, “the most lonely elephant in the world” was transferred by plane to a nature reserve in Cambodia, where he was able to interact again with his congeners.
An extraordinary operation
Kept in captivity in deplorable conditions for years in the zoo ofIslamabad (Pakistan), “The loneliest elephant in the world” began its new life a few days ago in Cambodia. Chained and mistreated, this elephantAsia male now 36 years old had lived alone since the death in 2012 of his partner Saheli. His sad situation did not fail to attract the attention of various animal protection organizations which, at the cost of a long campaign of mobilization, had finally obtained his transfer.
According to the Austrian foundation Four Paws, who coordinated the operation, it took vets and experts months to prepare the animal for the seven-hour flight. Overweight, he had to lose several hundred pounds and learn to climb in a massive box specially made for him, which was placed in a cargo plane.
The day after his arrival at Cambodia, Kaavan had their first interaction with a pachyderm in years, in which the two animals greeted each other by attaching their proboscis, as evidenced by images released by Four Paws. ” It was his first contact in eight years with an animal of his kind ”, notably declared Martin bauer, spokesperson for the foundation. “He will finally have the chance to live a peaceful life. “
The fight to save the animals of the Islamabad zoo keep on going
Due to the unworthy conditions in which the animals of the Islamabad zoo lived, a Pakistani judge last May ordered its closure and the placement of all of its residents in other structures. So far the foundation Four Paws has found new homes for three wolves, several monkeys and all of the zoo’s rodents, and also plans to rehabilitate two Himalayan brown bears in December.
American artist Expensive, who had given support to Pakistani animal rights associations in recent months and was there when the elephant arrived on Cambodian soil, announced through his Twitter account that the life of Kaavan will soon be the subject of a documentary.