Loneliest Elephant In The World Finally Meets One Of Its Own Kind For The First Time In Eight Years
It's a wonderful thing to see that animals finally get to experience something they have been deprived of for almost all their lives—and sometimes, that includes freedom. Lonely animals certainly have a knack for pulling at our hearts, and when they do experience the sweet taste of friendship with their fellow kind, it's a heartwarming sight to behold.
This is what happened with the world's loneliest elephant, Kaavan. According to Four Paws, an animal welfare organization, Kaavan was dubbed the world's loneliest elephant because he lived in the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad for over 30 years but was left alone when his only companion, named Saheli, died in 2012.
The elephant was a gift from Sri Lanka in 1985, and he was just a year old at that time. He shared an enclosure with Saheli when she arrived at the zoo in 1990, becoming his only consolation throughout those years.
When Saheli died, Kaavan began showing signs of mental illness. Following his companion's death, people started raising a petition for Kaavan to be freed and relocated.
With Kaavan's departure, the zoo that had been his home for over three decades was also set to close. He was Pakistan's last Asian elephant.
Now, for the first time in over eight years, Kaavan has finally found a friend in Cambodia.
Kaavan's life story is undoubtedly one of the saddest tales you will hear in the animal world.
After three decades of suffering, he was finally moved from Sri Lanka to a healthier home at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap. When Kaavan arrived there, he met another elephant for the first time in over eight years.
They even captured the moment when these two massive animals reached out to each other with their trunks! Such a lovely and heartwarming greeting for Kaavan.
Martin Bauer, one of the people from the animal welfare organization that made this possible, said:
“First contact with an elephant in eight years—this is a huge moment for Kaavan. Kaavan will finally have the chance to live a species-appropriate and peaceful life. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”
His lonely years after his only companion died finally came to an end when the petition that started in 2016 began to spread worldwide. Many animal welfare activists, charities, and organizations collaborated to set Kaavan free from isolation.
Their efforts eventually paid off!
Cher, the "Goddess of Pop," also became highly involved in campaigns for Kaavan's relocation. She used her platform to help Kaavan find a home in Cambodia.
She even hired a legal team to further advocate for the elephant's freedom, calling it one of the greatest moments of her life.
The zoo was then ordered to close for good after this case, as it had numerous issues with animal mistreatment and abuse aside from Kaavan's story.
After a ten-hour flight and military escort, the "world's loneliest animal" was finally free from the chains of seclusion as he was transferred to a better and more peaceful place.
After a short rehabilitation, Kaavan is set to be released into a wildlife sanctuary. A spokesperson for the Cambodian Environment Ministry said:
“Once Kaavan feels at home in a controlled setting, he will be released into a wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey province, in the northern section of Cambodia, where some 600 Asian elephants live in peace and tranquility.”
Isn't this just one of the most heartwarming stories you have ever heard? These gentle giants truly deserve a place they can rightfully call home, and we are all grateful for every effort from individuals and organizations that made this possible.
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