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After Arriving in Cambodia, Kaavan No Longer World's 'Loneliest' Elephant

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - An Asian elephant dubbed the "world's loneliest"
   has encountered another of his species for the first time in eight
   years after having been flown to a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary from
   years of abusive captivity in a Pakistan zoo.

   The Austrian-based animal welfare group Four Paws International, which
   arranged for the relocation of Kaavan the elephant, released Tuesday a
   picture of him touching another elephant with his trunk in Siem Reap,
   Cambodia.

   "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," tweeted the Austrian group.

     [1]#FreeKaavan ð: 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. ðWe are extremely
     moved! [2]pic.twitter.com/x5k60XTORP
     -- FOUR PAWS (@fourpawsint) [3]December 1, 2020

   Kaavan was gifted to Pakistan in 1985 by Sri Lanka when he was one year
   old. The elephant was held in chains for years in an insufficient
   enclosure and was forced to perform in front of visitors in the poorly
   managed Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.

   In 2012, his partner, Saheli, died due to a leg infection, prompting
   activists to call Kaavan the world's loneliest elephant. Campaigners
   say the heartbreaking image of Kaavan standing above the body of his
   partner shocked the world.

   Kaavan, weighing 5-tons and loaded in a custom-built enclosure, left
   Pakistan before dawn on Monday and arrived in Cambodia after an
   eight-hour flight, where he was welcomed by chanting Buddhist monks and
   sent on his way to the wildlife sanctuary.

   Pakistani Minister on Climate Change Amin Aslam in a statement "wished
   Kaavan more joyful days throughout the rest of his life" in Cambodia.

   "We are sure about it being the right step to retire Kaavan after
   spending over three decades in captivity," Aslam said.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeKaavan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://t.co/x5k60XTORP
   3. https://twitter.com/fourpawsint/status/1333662090784071681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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