Officials and well-wishers gathered at Islamabad Zoo in Pakistan on Monday (November 23) for a farewell party for lonely elephant Kaavan before he sets off for a new life in Cambodia.

The elephant is due to be transported to an elephant sanctuary on Sunday (November 29), following a years-long campaign by animal rights activists protesting his isolation, being the only elephant at the zoo.

Music icon Cher joined the campaign to help rehome Kavaan with help of a charity she co-founded and a large social media campaign.

Cher even travelled to see the elephant and serenade him with a performance of one of her songs.

To mark the occasion, officials, including lawmakers and the climate change minister, gathered among balloons and signs saying “Farewell Kaavan, we will miss you.”

Children posed for photos and musicians performed in front of the Kaavan's enclosure, with him calmly enjoying the leafy snacks handed to him despite having been aggressive to humans in the past.

Kaavan is known to be a fan of music and Amir Khalil, a vet from animal rescue organisation Four Paws, bonded with the elephant by singing him Frank Sinatra songs.

This footage was filmed and produced 23 November 2020.
Officials and well-wishers gathered at Islamabad Zoo on Monday for a farewell party for lonely elephant Kaavan before he sets off for a new life in Cambodia this week.

After years of campaigning by animal rights advocates and pop star Cher to rescue him from grim conditions with no companion, Kaavan was finally set to be airlifted to an elephant sanctuary on Sunday.

To mark the occasion, officials, including lawmakers and the climate change minister, gathered among balloons and signs saying “Farewell Kaavan, we will miss you.”

Children posed for photos and musicians performed in front of the enclosure, with Kaavan at one point serenaded while he snacked on some grass.
Kaavan is known to be a fan of music and Amir Khalil, a vet from animal rescue organisation Four Paws, bonded with the elephant, who has been aggressive to humans in the past, by singing him Frank Sinatra songs.