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For years, Kaavan was chained in a small enclosure. Now all of a sudden you will have a lot of space.
From the zoo in Pakistan to the animal sanctuary in Cambodia: Kaavan awaits his transport at the Marghazar zoo
Reuters
Rarely does an elephant become famous all over the world. In Kaavan’s case, the background to this is sad: His miserable living conditions at the zoo in the Pakistani capital Islamabad drew attention to the animal. The 35-year-old pachyderm was chained in a small enclosure for years. Now its history plagued with suffering should come to an end: animal rights activists had prepared the elephant for its flight to Cambodia in recent months. Kaavan should find a new home there.
Pop icon Cher also traveled to Pakistan to accompany the elephant. He had campaigned for Kaavan’s freedom since 2016. More recently, employees of the animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten prepared the planned trip for Sunday. The team had screened Kaavan for travel fitness in September. Before the flight, there were a series of challenges for the “loneliest elephant in the world”.
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Kaavan had developed psychological problems as a result of his past, said veterinarian Amir Khalil of the Four Paws animal welfare organization one day in November at the Marghazar Zoo. Only a few keepers cared for the elephant with such intensity. Furthermore, he was alone after the death of a female elephant eight years ago. Khalil earned his trust with music: he sings the Frank Sinatra classic to him over and over again. And the elephant really seems confident. “He is much calmer,” said Khalil of Austria.
Animal rights activists had fought for their freedom for years. They received special support from Cher, who co-financed Kaavan’s trip in half. The flight to the animal sanctuary in Cambodia costs around a quarter of a million euros, according to the Vier Pfoten organization, which pays for the rest of the trip. The Pakistani authorities had prepared in the past against the project. But an Islamabad court ruled in May that Kaavan should go to a sanctuary and that the zoo should be closed.
Meanwhile, preparations have been made at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in the north of the kingdom for weeks. Initially, Kaavan will stay in a smaller compound to get used to his new surroundings and his new family. It is mainly made up of three elephant cows named Diploh, Arun Reah, and Sarai Mia.
“We have established a 3,000 square meter quarantine area for him, including a water well,” said Canadian elephant expert Darrick Thomson, who worked on the job for Kaavan’s arrival. “He’s very close to our elephant ladies, he’ll like that.” Pachyderms can walk around the huge reserve all day, only at night they return to their smaller enclosures. “We have a lot of space here, 12,000 hectares,” Thomson said. Later, the “newbie” should also be able to move freely in the beautiful nature.
Thanks to the fruits in the box
Kaavan will take some getting used to. After all, for 35 years she had little room for him. The elephant came to Pakistan when it was a one year old baby. It was a gift from the Sri Lankan government to former dictator and general Zia ul-Haq.
Because it was so isolated for so long, Kaavan might initially react aggressively to the new conditions, Thomson said. But it is a positive change for him, much better than his sad existence so far. And he has company immediately, although at first separated by a fence and walls. “No one could foresee how he would react to the elephant cows.” We want to avoid injuries. “Then there must be direct contact with the conspecifics step by step,” and then we will see “.
Kaavan’s first job started three years ago in Cambodia. Then they were hired again. “We thought,” This will never happen, they won’t let it go, “Thomson said. Now the elephant has a happy future.” He will love the grasslands, the forests and the water holes.
Return to Pakistan: a German elephant trainer came to transport the passenger, who weighs tons. He prepared Kaavan for flight in a custom-made carrying case. “We take advantage of the fact that they like food,” said Ingo Schmidinger at the zoo at the foot of Cerro Margalla. So he accustoms Kaavan to the transport box with melons, apples and vegetables. “Elephants learn immediately,” said the expert. “And the good thing is that they like to do it.”
Training is necessary, explained Schmidinger. An elephant cannot simply be anesthetized during the flight of several hours. “Kaavan must remain fully awake and aware during the journey.” In this way, the elephant can compensate for the movements of the plane. Veterinarians keep watch on the plane and provide food and water to the pachyderms.
Khalil, who hadn’t left Kaavan’s side in recent weeks, had put the elephant on a diet. Little by little he reduced his daily food requirement from 200 to around 30 kilograms of sugar cane. As a result, Kaavan has lost several hundred kilos. A great effort to free a single elephant, but there is hardly any criticism.
“I feel compelled to give him the opportunity to be an elephant,” Khalil said. Only a few animals were here in the end. Some monkeys, a lone deer, and two bears to take to Jordan. Many other animals in the zoo had lost their lives due to poor housing conditions. Kaavan was one of the last to stay, says the 56-year-old vet. “It is a symbol of hope, Kaavan was the ambassador of all animals here.”
