Cher rescues 'world's loneliest elephant'

Cher rescues 'world's loneliest elephant'

By Lucy Jones  December 1st, 2020

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If you were looking for an excuse to blast Cher classics at full volume in your office (or home office), then do we have some great news for you! The iconic singer has just rescued the 'world's loneliest elephant' from a zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan after spending several years campaigning for his release.

Named Kavaan, the elephant has been held captive in the Marghazar Zoo for 35 years. He has lived alone in his enclosure since his partner died in 2012, earning the nickname the 'world's loneliest elephant'. Kavaan has spent most of his life chained in a small enclosure. The conditions are so poor in the Marghazar Zoo that it was ordered to close this August by an Islamabad court.

Thanks to Cher's NGO Free The Wild and animal welfare group Four Paws International, Kavaan is finally free. The singer travelled to Pakistan this week to accompany Kavaan on his journey to his new home in Cambodia — an animal sanctuary where he will live with three other Asian female elephants.

Cher is making a documentary about her campaign to release Kavaan in collaboration with the Smithsonian Channel.

"I found out about Kaavan from the people on my Twitter," Cher said in a statement. "I thought how can I fix this? How can I save an elephant who's been shackled to a shed for 17 years and who is a thousand miles away? This is Free The Wild's first big rescue and I am so proud."

We invite you to celebrate Kavaan's release by doing your worst karaoke rendition of this Cher classic:

Positive Environment News has been compiled using publicly available information. Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes. 

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Lucy Jones

Lucy started her career working as a writer and editor in print and digital publishing. She went on to create content for Australia's leading sustainable fashion platform while completing her Master of Cultural Studies. Lucy spends her downtime at the beach, crocheting and hanging out with her cat Larry. She believes words can change the world and is stoked to help Planet Ark spread the message of positive environmental change.

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