Cher thanks PM Imran Khan for his assistance in Kaavan’s relocation

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🙏🏻.

— Cher (@cher) November 27, 2020

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.

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) November 27, 2020

Read more – Cher thanks PM Khan for ‘making her dream come true’

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.

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) November 27, 2020

Malik Amin Aslam (@aminattock), SAPM on Climate Change and in-charge of the Prime Minister's green drive was also present during the meeting.

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) November 27, 2020

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.

Thanks @Cher for coming to #Pakistan to see off #Kavaan on his journey to the Cambodia elephant sanctuary – and also for lending support to #PMIK @ImranKhanPTI #Green vision which is protecting #Wildlife habitats through #10BillionTreeTsunami and the #ProtectedAreaInitiative pic.twitter.com/yvy9UNvBnY

— Malik Amin Aslam (@aminattock) November 27, 2020

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.