Pakistan’s lonely elephant Kaavan began his new life in a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary on Tuesday, the result of years of campaigning for his relocation by U.S. singer Cher.
She was there to see him beginning to explore his new home and said: “You know this is amazing for him… his life is going to be the life of an elephant and not the life of a prisoner.”
The 36-year-old elephant had spent most of his life at a zoo in Islamabad, before being moved on Tuesday to the Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey Province, to start a new life with some 600 other elephants.
Cher had written songs pressing for Kaavan’s release from grim, isolated conditions at Islamabad Zoom and she had spent the last few days with him in Pakistan.
Now in Cambodia, Kaavan will gradually move from a quarantine enclosure, to a larger one, and then will eventually be able to explore an area spanning several hectares, according to a communications representative from the animal welfare organization Four Paws.
“It’s just a lovely place and the people are very kind. I would love in some years to come back and see him,” added the singer.
Cher was on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia’s second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet the elephant and met the vets who accompanied Kaavan on his long journey in a custom-made crate, with more than 200 kg (441 lbs) of food to keep him busy.
The multi award-winning singer posed for pictures at the airport in sunglasses and a black facemask holding up a Pakistan vehicle license plate bearing her name and that of the elephant. Cher has been filming a documentary with the Smithsonian Channel covering the rescue, which is being facilitated by her animal welfare organisation Free the Wild.
Dozens of wildlife workers and experts led by animal rescue organisation Four Paws had used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate before he was loaded onto the Russian-built cargo plane.
His crate had the words #FreeKaavan painted on the outside.
Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and spokesman of Cambodia’s Environment Ministry, lauded Four Paws and Cher for their efforts to help Kaavan and said Cambodia would be the ideal home for him.
“Cambodia is pleased to welcome Kaavan. No longer will he be the world’s loneliest elephant,” he said at a welcome ceremony.