Kaavan

Kaavan is an Asian elephant. He served from 1985 to 2020 in Islamabad Zoo, Pakistan. Kaavan, often referred to as the “world’s loneliest elephant,” is a male Asian elephant who was born in 1985 in Sri Lanka. He was gifted by the government of Sri Lanka to Pakistan in 1985. Kaavan was kept at the Islamabad Zoo and remained as the only Asian elephant living in Pakistan. His partner, a 22-year-old elephant named Saheli, died in 2012, which led to Kaavan being known as the “world’s loneliest elephant”.

An American veterinarian, Samar Khan, visited Islamabad Zoo in 2015 and was disturbed by Kaavan’s condition and environment. She started a petition on Change.org to plead for Kaavan’s release to an elephant sanctuary. Khan’s petition received more than 400,000 signatures and caught the attention of American singer Cher. In response to the petition, zoo officials took some steps to improve Kaavan’s care, such as providing additional water and removing his chains.

In May 2020, the Islamabad High Court ordered Kaavan to be released. He was moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia in November 2020, in response to a campaign launched by local and international animal rights activists, led by Cher. Today, Kaavan lives in the sanctuary in Cambodia, where he is no longer the “world’s loneliest elephant.” His story has brought international attention to the conditions of animals in zoos and has sparked discussions about animal rights and welfare.