Kaavan's first contact: ‘former loneliest elephant in the world’ makes a friend in Cambodia

The 36-year-old bull elephant spent much of his life alone but has been resettled at a wildlife sanctuary after a campaign led by Cher

Kaavan the elephant interacted with another elephant for the first time in years after being taken from Pakistan to Cambodia on Monday.

He was resettled following a global campaign led by American singer Cher.

Animal welfare organisation Four Paws moved Kaavan – an overweight, 36-year-old bull elephant – from Islamabad Zoo to a wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey province in northern Cambodia and announced the meeting between the animals on Twitter.

US pop singer Cher gestures in front of the crate of Kaavan the Asian elephant upon his arrival in Cambodia from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport on November 30, 2020. AFP

Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport, Cambodia. EPA

Cher watches as rescued elephant Kaavan arrives at the international airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP

Kavaan is offloaded from the plane in Siem Reap airport arrival in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws

Kavaan arrives in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws

Cher holds a welcoming sign for rescued elephant Kaavan in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AP

Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP

Cher and Cambodia's Deputy Minister of Environment Neth Pheaktra await the arrival of a crate containing Kaavan the elephant from Pakistan at Siem Reap International Airport. AFP

Cher reacts as the crate containing Kaavan the Asian elephant is opened for his release into his new home in the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey Province. AFP

Cher arrives at Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia. EPA

Cher at the arrival of Kavaan in Cambodia. Courtesy Four Paws

Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws

Elephant Kaavan is finally relocated from Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad to Cambodia. Four Paws

Amir Khalil, a veterinarian and director of the project development for Four Paws International, feeds Kaavan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, in a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP

Pakistani wildlife workers, officials and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, pose for photograph next to a crate holding an elephant named Kaavan before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP

Veterinarians from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws inject medicine to an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP

Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, use a crane to move a crate carrying an elephant named Kaavan before transporting him to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP

Pakistani wildlife workers and experts from the international animal welfare organization Four Paws, arrange an elephant named Kaavan into a crate before he is transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia. AP

American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA

American Iconic singer and actress Cher visits the elephant named 'Kaavan' at Maragzar zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with American pop icon Cher, in Islamabad, Pakistan. EPA

A photographer takes a picture of an elephant named "Kaavan" waiting to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Maragzar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. AP

Officials of Four Paws International and wildlife rangers move Kavaan, Pakistan's only Asian elephant, into a crate prior to transport it to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. AFP

"Seeing Kaavan interacting with other elephants is a huge moment for us but more importantly for Kaavan. We are extremely moved," the organisation tweeted on Tuesday, along with a photo of Kaavan reaching through the bars of a fence to touch trunks with another elephant.

Kaavan arrived in Cambodia by cargo plane to start a new life with 600 other elephants.

Cher wrote songs that urged authorities to release Kaavan from grim, isolated conditions in the zoo where he spent much of his life alone.

She spent time with the animal in the days before he was flown to his new home.

The singer was also on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia's second-biggest city, Siem Reap, to greet the elephant and met the vets who accompanied him on his long journey in a custom-made crate, with more than 200 kilograms of food to keep him busy.

Dozens of wildlife workers and experts used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate before he was loaded on to the Russian-built cargo plane.

His crate had the words #FreeKaavan painted on the side.

Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and spokesman for Cambodia's Environment Ministry, praised Four Paws and Cher for their efforts to help Kaavan and said Cambodia would be the ideal home for him.

"Cambodia is pleased to welcome Kaavan. No longer will he be the world's loneliest elephant," he said at a welcome ceremony.