Zubair Qureshi
The lone, aging elephant in Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo has been declared, by a team of international vets, physically and mentally fit to be relocated to new home, a sanctuary for elephants in Cambodia.
The plight of the chained pachyderm had invited international condemnation and an American vet Samar Khan launched a worldwide online petition to set animal free. Some 400,000 people voiced their support and among Kaavan’s fans include singer and activist Cher.
However it was after Islamabad High Court Chief justice Athar Minallah took notice of poor condition of Kaavan and ordered his relocation that the government moved into action.
Four Paws International an animals rescue and welfare group led by its project director Dr Amir Khalil and Frank Goeritz Head of the Veterinary services a day earlier (Friday ) examined the animal using tranquilizer darts, flat breads and the soothing lyrics of Frank Sinatra as the poor creature had been unaccustomed to human contact since 2016 last time he underwent a medical check-up.
