"World's Loneliest Elephant" To Be Rescued From Infamous Zoo

via https://youtu.be/avaNpTK01lQ After years of solitude, the supporter-dubbed "world's loneliest elephant" will get a new lease on life with the help of animal welfare organization Four Paws. Kaavan the elephant had been living in the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, for over 35 years. Originally a gift from Sri Lanka, according to Four Paws's press release, Kaavan lived with his partner Saheli in the zoo from 1990 until Saheli's death in 2012. Kaavan isn't the only animal to suffer in the zoo. Marghazar Zoo is now controlled by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, which invited Four Paws to help relocate the surviving animals. On Sept. 4, Four Paws examined Kaavan to assure he's healthy enough to survive the move. Due to malnutrition and lack of physical exercise Kaavan shows visible signs of obesity — Dr. Amir Khalil Also, his nails are cracked and malformed which can be attributed to the inappropriate flooring and structure of his enclosure. To solve this issue, he needs to go through a long-term foot care program, which cannot be performed in Marghazar Zoo. Another veterinarian, Dr. Frank Göritz, head vet at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin, said that the elephant has become very bored due to lack of enrichment or partner. Kaavan has suffered, but the experts deemed him healthy enough to be relocated. While it's uncertain when and where exactly Kaavan will go — the press release said "potentially Cambodia" — Four Paws is taking steps to get him into an animal sanctuary.