Cher and Kaavan the Elephant
(Disclaimer: La Tonique Media LLC does not represent any political ideology. While we do not espouse any political beliefs, we do seek to provide a balance perspective by incorporating voices from both sides of the political spectrum.)
By Stepan Gauvreau
In 2012, Kaavan the elephant was forced to endure solitude, when his companion, Saheli, died. Like humans and other mammals, elephants have complex social structures that hinge on interaction and close contact with members of the same species. Elephants, in nature, can be found in herds as large as 100 individuals and are led by matriarchs, typically the oldest female of the group. While the lower bound of herds does not typically fall below eight members, Kaavan, a male, and Saheli, a female, were the only two held in their pen in Islamabad, Pakistan. In the last two weeks of Saheli’s life, while she suffered tremendous pain. Kaavan stood by her side to comfort her. When she died, Kaavan was left alone to deal with the throes of isolation.
Afflicted by his companion’s death, his own constitution deteriorated, and he grew despondent and obese. A short time later, a Pakistani court ordered the zoo to close due to the conditions in which the animals, including Kaavan, were kept.
Enter Cher. Global outcry of the necessity to relocate the animals drew the attention of Cher, whose success as a singer, actress, and TV personality has endured for decades. Maria Usman of ABC News reported that, when Cher was made aware of Kaavan’s situation via Twitter, she “reached out to Mark Cowne, a global talent agency boss with a passion for wildlife” to help her in her quest to save Kaavan, who was later termed the world’s loneliest elephant.
Cher and Crowne partnered with Free the Wild, an organization dedicated to moving animals enclosed in zoos rife with improper handling and mistreatment to sanctuaries or zoos that are better equipped and willing to take adequate care of wild animals. In conjunction with Free the Wild, the team was able to secure Kaavan’s transfer to an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia after five years of negotiations with zoo employees, wildlife associations and even government officials.
The front page of Free the Wild now triumphantly shows images and videos of Kaavan being relocated, declaring proudly, “We did it!” Kaavan will be the biggest and heaviest Asian elephant to be relocated the longest distance by air. With this immense logistical challenge solved, he was able to join other elephants for the first time in 8 years.
The fortuitous intervention by pop star Cher and the tireless work of countless individuals, wildlife activists and anonymous Kaavan supporters has resulted in the successful relocation of an intelligent and social animal to a place in which his emotional needs can be met. And the good news does not stop there. With their recent success, Cher and Free the Wild are setting their sights on Bua Noi, dubbed Thailand’s last gorilla, and other animals who need intercession around the world.
Stepan Gauvreau is a political writer for La Tonique.
