Kavaan no longer world’s ‘loneliest elephant’, finds new friends 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.

#Kaavan is already socializing with neighbors: beautiful female elephants #Cambodia pic.twitter.com/5j8iyX7itv

— Neth Pheaktra (@pheaktraneth) December 1, 2020

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. #Cambodia pic.twitter.com/gyBfzDNOf6

— Neth Pheaktra (@pheaktraneth) December 1, 2020

First day for #Kaavan in his new home in #KulenPromtep #wildlife sanctuary in #Cambodia pic.twitter.com/vyJRU4Bqa5

— Neth Pheaktra (@pheaktraneth) December 1, 2020

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

— FOUR PAWS International (@fourpawsint) December 1, 2020

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

— FOUR PAWS International (@fourpawsint) November 30, 2020

“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!

— FOUR PAWS International (@fourpawsint) November 30, 2020