Kaavan, the ‘loneliest elephant in the world’ according to animal activists, arrived in Cambodia on Monday. The animal has lived under poor conditions in a Pakistani zoo in Islamabad for 35 years, but will spend the rest of its life with its kind in a Cambodian shelter.
The globally operating animal welfare organization Vier Voeters is behind the rescue of the animal. In recent months, the team has been preparing for the transport of Kaavan by cargo plane.
“Three times a day the team practiced with Kaavan the safe and stress-free entry and exit in and out of the transport box, which weighs approximately 4 tons. Kaavan quickly gained confidence in us and made great progress in a short time.”
During the ten-hour journey, 200 kilos of food was ready for the animal. “A tube system has been installed in his transport box to intercept up to 200 liters of urine.” The involved veterinarian of Vier Voeters says that Kaavan “ate and did not seem stressed. He even slept a little in the transport box.”
Kaavan had a partner from 1990 until his death in 2012. The elephant then began to show signs of boredom, stress, and loneliness. He has been working on his transfer to a shelter for years. Singer Cher, among others, has committed herself to the animal.
The now closed Marghazar Zoo where Kaavan stayed is notorious for the poor conditions under which animals had to live.
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