AN elephant who has become a cause celebre for animal rights activists around the world will be allowed to leave his Pakistani zoo in favour of better conditions, animal welfare activists have said.
Dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant” by his supporters, Kaavan has languished at Marghazar Zoo in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for more than 35 years.
Martin Bauer, a spokesperson for the animal rights group Four Paws, said the elephant has been finally given medical approval to travel to a new home. He will most likely move to Cambodia, where he will find companionship and better conditions.
Bauer said the overweight elephant underwent a full medical examination at the zoo on Friday.
In May, Pakistan’s High Court ordered Marghazar Zoo to be closed because of abysmal conditions, blamed on systemic negligence.
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