Elephants are highly sensitive and caring animals. They’re very much like humans because they have complex emotions, feelings, compassion, and self-awareness. You often see them traveling in herds lead by the matriarch. And like humans, elephants mourn the death of their loved ones.
The famous saying, no man is an island applies to most creatures on Earth. Without the companion of our own kind, we are left to wander on our own that it affects us mentally. Hence, elephants also need a companion of their own kind.
However, for this Asian elephant, he had been living alone for 8 years and under poor conditions.
Kaan is a 36-year-old Asian elephant who spent three decades in a dilapidated zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Marghazar Zoo was not the best place for any animal. Kaan was chained during his stay and he suffered from lack of exercise.
For a while, Kaan was not alone. From 1990 to 2012, he had a companion named Saheli.
Sadly, Saheli died in 2012. Kaan was alone and heartbroken. With no one of his kind to spend his time with, Kaan was given the title of the “World’s Loneliest Elephant”.
Due to his solitude and confinement, Kaan became malnourished. His nails became overgrown, and he suffered from behavioral problems.
When Kaan’s heartbreaking story got out, it sparked a global uproar, especially American superstar Cher.
Cher, who is the co-founder of the NGO Free the Wild, wrote on Twitter that she saw Kaavan “shackled in a shed” and “unable to move”. So, she decided to launch a social media campaign to #freeKaavan.
In May 2020, a Pakistani court finally ruled that Kaavan should be relocated to a healthy and safer environment. Kaan’s new home will be the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.
The animal sanctuary in Cambodia was a beautiful place where he can be able to socialize with other elephants and live comfortably. To help transport the Asian elephant from Pakistan to Cambodia, the Four Paws International Group thought of transporting him by plane.
“Transfering an adult elephant on a plane is something very, very rare. An elephant transfer by plane on this scale I think has never happened before, so we are writing history here,” Martin Bauer, spokesperson of Four Paws told NPR.
Cher even flew to Pakistan to see Kaavan off before his flight. She even sang A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes to help soothe his nerves.
Thankfully, Kaavan had a smooth flight to Cambodia!
Four Paws tweeted. “Kavan 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.”
Kaavan is now getting used to his life in the sanctuary. He is seen playfully exploring his new home and socializing with other elephants.
“The goal is to socialize him. It will take a while because he has lived on his own for such a long time. But yes, ultimately the goal is to bring him together with other animals because that’s what elephants want.”
The most beautiful and inspiring photo Four Paws shared about Kaavan was his trunk locked with his new neighbor.
“We can now officially call him the former loneliest elephant in the world,” says Four Paws.
We’re truly happy to see a happy and healthy Kaavan. To support Four Paws International Group, you can donate through your website.
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