‘World’s loneliest elephant’ to get new life after 35 years at Pakistani zoo

An elephant who has turn out to be a motive birthday celebration for animal rights activists world wide will likely be allowed to depart his Pakistani zoo and transferred to higher prerequisites, the animal welfare workforce serving to with the case stated Saturday.

Dubbed the ‘global’s loneliest elephant’ by means of his supporters, Kaavan has languished at a zoo within the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for greater than 35 years.

Martin Bauer, a spokesman for 4 Paws, stated the elephant has been in spite of everything given scientific approval to trip, perhaps to Cambodia, the place he’s going to in finding companionship and higher prerequisites.

The obese elephant Kaavan underwent a complete scientific exam on the zoo on Friday, stated Bauer.

In Might, Pakistan’s Top Courtroom ordered the Marghazar Zoo closed on account of its abysmal prerequisites blamed on systemic negligence.

Rescuing Kaavan from the zoo’s dire prerequisites attracted the eye of animal activists world wide, and celebrities together with US singer Cher, who lobbied for his relocation.

“Sadly, the rescue comes too overdue for 2 lions that died right through an tried switch on the finish of July after native animal handlers set a fire of their enclosure to power them into their delivery crates,” Bauer stated in a remark launched on Saturday.

He stated 4 Paws used to be invited by means of the Islamabad Natural world Control Board to soundly switch the remainder animals within the zoo. Kaavan has till now been pressured to reside a solitary existence in a small enclosure.

Friday’s scientific exam confirmed the elephant used to be obese, whilst he confirmed indicators of malnutrition. His nails had been cracked and overgrown it sounds as if from years of residing in an incorrect enclosure with floor that broken his ft.

“Following the exams, which showed Kaavan is robust sufficient, steps will now be taken to finalize his relocation to an animal sanctuary doubtlessly in Cambodia,” Bauer stated.

His restoration will likely be an extended one, stated Bauer, including that Kaavan’s wounds are extra than simply bodily. He additionally suffers behavioral problems.

Kaavan, who misplaced his spouse in 2012, has battled loneliness in addition to deficient residing prerequisites. Each have taken their toll, stated Bauer in an interview.

“He additionally advanced stereotypical conduct, this means that he shakes his head from side to side for hours. That is basically as a result of he’s merely bored,” stated Bauer.

The 4 Paws staff that performed Kaavan’s bodily integrated flora and fauna veterinarians and professionals.

It wasn’t in an instant identified when Kaavan would be capable of trip. Rights activists have lobbied for his relocation since 2016.