'World's Loneliest Elephant' May Finally Find Friends Following 35 Years In A Zoo

Sep 09, 2020

Kaavan, an elephant that has been kept at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan for over 35 years, will finally be released after a successful campaign by animal welfare activists. Languishing in a tiny enclosure during his time there, Kaavan has now been given medical approval to travel and will soon be moved to Cambodia most likely, where he'll have better living conditions and hopefully find companionship.

Dubbed the "world's loneliest elephant" by those who support him, Kaavan has been living in poor conditions at the Islamabad Zoo (a.k.a. the Marghazar Zoo) for a very long time. Horrifically, the zoo kept animals in "abysmal conditions blamed on systemic negligence," prompting Pakistan's High Court to order the closure of the Marghazar Zoo in May, according to Fox 5.

The news spread globally with activists campaigning for Kaavan's relocation since 2016, but since news of the zoo's closure came to light in the last few months, it's set off a wave of support including from musician Cher, who has been a vocal supporter of Kaavan's cause, as The Week reports.

Alongside Kaavan there are other animals who have been living in the zoo in substandard conditions. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board hired the organization Four Paws to safely transfer these remaining animals from the zoo to better conditions, but unfortunately, not all of them were saved in time. Martin Bauer, a spokesperson for Four Paws said in a statement, as reported by the USA Today Sun:

"Unfortunately, the rescue comes too late for two lions that died during an attempted transfer at the end of July after local animal handlers set a fire in their enclosure to force them into their transport crates."

Safety measures were then taken into account to ensure Kaavan's safe transfer, including receiving a full medical examination by a group of wildlife veterinarians and experts to check that Kaavan is strong enough to make the journey. The examination found that Kaavan is overweight, despite showing signs of malnutrition. Additionally, his feet and nails have suffered after living in an enclosure with improper flooring for years, causing him cracked nails that are overgrown. But overall, the checkup was successful, with Bauer stating:

"Following the checks, which confirmed Kaavan is strong enough, steps will now be taken to finalize his relocation to an animal sanctuary potentially in Cambodia." 

Kaavan might be on the road to recovery, but his wounds after years of neglect are not only physical but also psychological. Suffering from behavioral issues, Bauer added that Kaavan "also developed stereotypical behavior, which means he shakes his head back and forth for hours. This is mainly because he is simply bored," according to USA Today Sun. The elephant's loneliness comes not only from the poor conditions he has been living in but also from losing his partner in 2012, which Bauer says contributes to Kaavan's lack of wellbeing.

Had you heard about Kaavan's story before? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, then be sure to pass this story on to the animal lovers in your life.