Once the elephant gets a clearance, he can be moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia
Three veterinary experts will travel to Pakistan to assess the condition of Marghazar Zoo’s lone elephant Kaavan after the Pakistani mission in Bangkok issued visas, according to the ministry of climate change.
The experts will determine whether the 35-year-old elephant is fit to travel to Cambodia, where he will be placed in a sanctuary expanding on 25,000 acres of land.
The veterinary experts from Thailand include Srisaard Channarong, Pratumdee Wichian and Thomson Darrick Lome.
Ministry of Climate Change’s Deputy Director Mohammad Saleem is the focal person on the transfer of Kaavan to the sanctuary. He said that the orders of Islamabad high court are being carried out and the elephant will be relocated to a sanctuary.
“In compliance with the direction of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) had notified on June 9 an eight-member committee for the relocation of the elephant and other animals of the Marghzar Zoo to other sanctuaries,” he said.
Saleem said that after the meeting, IWMB decided to move the elephant into a sanctuary present in Cambodia. He also said that all matters of importance including logistics, facilities and legal agreements will be taken into consideration before Kaavan is moved.
“It was decided that relocation options for the elephant Kaavan must be considered after examining all parameters, such as the health of the animal, the logistics, suitability and facilities at the proposed site and the agreement with the new site authorities, amongst others,” he said.
Kaavan – distressed elephant
Kaavan was a gift to Pakistan from Sri Lanka and arrived in the country in 1985. Saheli, his female companion, died in 2012. Since then, Kaavan has been alone and has reportedly developed psychological issues. After a case was filed, Islamabad High Court found that the Marghazar Zoo was unfit not only for Kaavan but also for all the other animals and directed that all the 878 other animals held in Islamabad’s zoo be relocated within 60 days of the order.
While Kaavan will be permanently relocated, most of the animals have been moved from Islamabad Zoo that now has only a few animals including rabbits, monkeys, elephant and a brown bear.