Kaavan, the 35-year-old elephant, is all set to be airlifted to Cambodia on Sunday, November 29, to start off a new chapter in his life. Earlier this year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) approved to transfer Kaavan to the foreign land, where he will be housed in a famous elephant sanctuary. In order to bid farewell to him, a group of officials, well-wishers and lawmakers gathered at Islamabad zoo, holding placards which read, “Farewell Kaavan, we will miss you.” California-based vet Samar Khan was the first to take notice of Kaavan’s plight in Pakistan, when she found him chained in his enclosure during a visit to the country. She immediately started an online petition that eventually caught the eye of American pop icon Cher and several animal rights advocates around the globe.
In other news @cher is coming to #Pakistan on the 27th to see #Kaavan, the loneliest elephant in the world and who she has rescued, off to his new home in #Cambodia where he will live in an elephant #sanctuary. A lovely end to a sad story
— Ayesha Tammy Haq (@tammyhaq) November 25, 2020
In latest news, Cher is all set to pay a visit to Pakistan on November 27, in order to bid adieu to Kaavan. The announcement of her impending arrival was made by Pakistani journalist Ayesha Tammy Haq on Twitter. “In other news @cher is coming to #Pakistan on the 27th to see #Kaavan, the loneliest elephant in the world and who she has rescued, off to his new home in #Cambodia where he will live in an elephant #sanctuary. A lovely end to a sad story,” Haq wrote. The singer is yet to confirm the news of her flying to Pakistan.
Expressing grief over Kaavan’s departure, Senator PTI Faisal Javed Khan wrote, “Sorry & Farewell to Kaavan! As our dearest (from childhood) is off to Cambodia. Previous govts didn’t pay any attention in making sanctuaries or national parks and we are sorry for the way we treated Kavaan.” He added, “Our Govt straight away kicked off the work on establishing 15 new national parks to preserve the ecological habitats & wildlife while focusing on eco-tourism and nature conservation. Kavaan – we all remember from our childhood will surely be missing Saheli who remained his partner here from 1990 to 2002 (until her death) Kavaan will join his new friends in Cambodia.”