'D-Day' for Pakistan's lonely elephant as handlers prepare airlift to Cambodia

Amir Khalil, head of project development at FOUR PAWS International, and Frank Goeritz, head of the veterinary service at Leibniz Institute for zoo and wildlife research in Berlin, take blood sample of Kaavan, an elephant to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Saiyna Bashir

A team of animal experts began the task on Sunday of airlifting Pakistan's lonely elephant Kaavan on the long journey to his new home at a sanctuary in northwestern Cambodia, marking the culmination of years of campaigning by American singer Cher.

Cher, who has written songs calling for Kaavan to be rescued from his grim and lonely conditions at Islamabad Zoo, is due to meet the elephant upon its arrival in Cambodia after she spent the last few days with him in Islamabad.

Amir Khalil, head of project development at FOUR PAWS International, stands outside crate as he feeds Kaavan, an elephant to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Saiyna Bashir

On Sunday morning, dozens of wildlife workers and experts led by animal rescue organisation Four Paws used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into a custom-designed crate in which he will be transported to the Cambodian city of Siem Reap.

"It is an emotional day for all of us," said Four Paws vet Amir Khalil. "But we also call it 'D-day'."

Weighing more than 10 tons, the crate was then lifted by crane out of the enclosure and onto a truck. Later a military convoy will escort Kaavan to Islamabad's airport from where he will embark on a roughly 10-hour flight to Cambodia in the early hours of Monday morning on a former Russian cargo plane.

Amir Khalil, head of project development at FOUR PAWS International, and Frank Goeritz, head of the veterinary service at Leibniz Institute for zoo and wildlife research in Berlin, perform tests on Kaavan, an elephant to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Saiyna Bashir

Kaavan's handlers are taking more than 200 kilograms of food including bananas and melons for him to munch on during the journey, according to Four Paws.

Cher has been filming a documentary with the Smithsonian Channel covering the rescue, which is being facilitated by her animal welfare organisation Free the Wild.

"I found out about Kaavan from the people on my Twitter,” said Cher, according to a statement from the Smithsonian Channel. "I thought how can I fix this? How can I save an elephant who's been shackled to a shed for 17 years and who is a thousand miles away? This is Free The Wild’s first big rescue and I am so proud."

Zoo staff and animal experts gather as a crane uplifting a crate carrying Kaavan, an elephant to be transported to a sanctuary in Cambodia, at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan November 29, 2020. REUTERS/Saiyna Bashir

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)