Committee proposes relocation of Islamabad Zoo elephant to Cambodia
July 18, 2020

Kavaan the elephant
Islamabad, Pakistan: The eight-member experts’ committee has recommended that the 25,000-acre wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia could be a suitable area for relocation and retirement of elephant Kavaan of the Islamabad Marghzar Zoo after giving joy to thousands of visiting children over last several years, according to a press release issued here on Friday.

“The Committee has argued that the sanctuary already houses elephants and is equipped with experts, who have relocated and rehabilitated over 80 elephants so far, would be the best choice,” said Muhammad Saleem, deputy director and a media focal person of the Ministry of Climate Change

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) had constituted on June 9 an eight-member committee for relocation of the elephant Kavaan and other animals of the Marghzar Zoo to some other sanctuaries.

Complying with the direction of the Islamabad High Court, Chief Justice Athar Minallah, IWMB notified the experts’ committee, comprising its WWF-Pakistan’s senior director programme Pakistan as its chairman and biodiversity specialist Z. B. Mirza as co-chairman.

The Committee’s other members include Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Chief Conservator Dr Mohsin Farooq, Islamabad Zoo veterinary officer Dr Bilal Khilji, Dr Masoodul Haq of Bahria Zoo, Dr Tom Channarong Srisa of Ard Save the Elephant Foundation, Ms Nilanga Jaysinghe of IUCN, co-founder of Save the Elephant Foundation Derek Thompson and representatives from M/o Climate Change as well as the Islamabad Zoo.

A meeting of IWMB, convened on July 13, reviewed various options for safe relocation/retirement of the elephant to comply with the Honorable Islamabad High Court’s judgment issued on May 21.

“The meeting participants were of the view that the re-location options for the elephant Kavaan must be considered after examining all parameters, such as the health of the animal, the logistics, suitability and facilities at the proposed re-location site and the agreement with the new site authorities amongst others.”
https://dailytimes.com.pk/642281/commit ... -cambodia/

Good luck swab testing that old fella for Covid-19

Free Kaavan! He has a group of supporters and his own facebook page, and elephant lovers have been trying to get Kaavan moved out of that zoo since 2016.




Then earlier this year, the Islamabad High Court ruled that Kaavan must be removed from the zoo and sent to a sanctuary. But, why send him to Cambodia, when it seems that Kaavan is originally from Sri Lanka ?

Islamabad High Court asked IWMB to make arrangements and consult with Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to relocate Kaavan to a suitable sanctuary within 30 days.

Is this another type of refugee resettlement deal for Cambodia ?

Maybe he wants to see st 136 before he dies?
it's a common syndrome for wrinkly old pot-bellied blokes.

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:44 pm Maybe he wants to see st 136 before he dies?
it's a common syndrome for wrinkly old pot-bellied blokes.

Ain't nothing wrong with getting your kicks on 136

From what I read orginally the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary offered him a home around 2017 after the press and news had exploded about his mistreatment so that's probably why? Also he was gifted by Sri Lanka to show to Pakistan as a show of close bonds between countries it may be a cultural or political slight to give back a gift?

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:44 pm Maybe he wants to see st 136 before he dies?
it's a common syndrome for wrinkly old pot-bellied blokes.same same same

WTF has that got to do with an elephant!

Yeah!
Hey, be careful I resemble that remark!
A bald head is a solar panel for a sex machine
A pot belly is
A Pot belly shows what kind of man you are a man who lifts weights or lifts beers?

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:44 pm Maybe he wants to see st 136 before he dies?
it's a common syndrome for wrinkly old pot-bellied blokes.

September 4, 2020 / 4:41 PM / 2 days ago
With songs and sedation, experts aim to rescue Kaavan the Islamabad elephant
Charlotte Greenfield

2 Min Read
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The trick to calming an unhappy elephant? Sing him Frank Sinatra songs, according to one of the vets tasked with assessing whether Kaavan can be moved from poor conditions in a zoo in Pakistan’s capital to a sanctuary in Cambodia.

Amir Khalil, a vet who has worked in war zones to rescue animals, is now in Islamabad with welfare organisation Four Paws to determine whether Kaavan is safe to travel after a Pakistan court ruled in May that all animals at Islamabad’s zoo must be set free or transferred to a better environment.

“When we arrived 10 days ago ... I started to train him and to sing to him and he accommodated me so we have a relationship,” he said, adding he chose Sinatra’s hit “My Way”.

Animal rights advocates have long raised concerns about conditions at Islamabad’s zoo, where dozens of animals including six lion cubs have died in the past four years.

The court decision came after a four-year global campaign, backed by American singer Cher. Plans are underway to move Kaavan, to Cambodia if possible. The 36-year-old elephant has spent most of his life in a small enclosure with meagre shelter, and the last eight years alone after his companion elephant died.

But even with Sinatra, it is no easy feat moving an elephant thousands of miles.

Four Paws experts fired darts with a sedative so they could give the sleepy animal a comprehensive check up.

As Kaavan woke up to eat some apples, Four Paws elephant specialist Frank Goeritz analysed his blood samples. Though it will be a few days before he files a formal report, Goeritz said despite Kaavan being obese, unhappy and having malformed nails that put him at risk of serious infection, the outlook was hopeful.

“Let’s wait until we have all the results, but so far I don’t see a big problem with him travelling ... he is facing a good life.”

Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Giles Elgood
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Cold hard economic rationality, and perhaps common sense, says that all the money and all the effort would probably better be spent in assisting elephants to survive in the wild.
But what can you say....??

Thankfully, it is unlikely any real conservation dollars are going into this circus, almost for sure not.
This looks more like the well meaning, high flyin', stuff of hollywood stars and rich bored heiresses hungering for a meaningful life.
Better than spending it on cocaine and champagne i s'spose.
maybe

Good luck to Kaavan anyway - Cambodia will certainly be a giant leap forward for any poor pachydermous stranded in Pakistan.