A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back: Part 5: Kaavan is Finally Home
AbZOOlutely Not** or The Controversy of Zoos & Others Keeping Elephants in Captivity

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back: Part 5: Kaavan is Finally Home

There is no better feeling in the world than to witness the best of humanity and the rescue of a zoo elephant. Dr. Amir Khalil, kindness radiates from your soul to the soul of that elephant, our elephant Kaavan. This is Dr. Khalil’s interview with TRT World Now, as Kaavan is finally home. TRT World … Continue reading »

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 4: Ride Along With Kaavan as He is Transported From Airport to Sanctuary
AbZOOlutely Not** or The Controversy of Zoos & Others Keeping Elephants in Captivity

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 4: Ride Along With Kaavan as He is Transported From Airport to Sanctuary

Kaavan the elephant is filmed splashing himself with water as he is being transported** in his air freight container (#FreeKaavan) from the airport to his new home at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary. We see other glimpses of our Kaavan: the tip of his elephant trunk, his elephant toes with elephant toenails, just a happy bull elephant … Continue reading »

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 3: What a Captive Elephant Needs – Kaavan’s Influential Friends
AbZOOlutely Not** or The Controversy of Zoos & Others Keeping Elephants in Captivity

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 3: What a Captive Elephant Needs – Kaavan’s Influential Friends

Human compassion for a captive elephant. It just all makes sense. Possibilities are endless when kind humans intervene. Islamabad Wildlife Management Board Chairman Dr. Anis Ur Rahman:  “…You see, uh, what you have to realize is that elephants belong, like I just mentioned, they belong to their own environment, okay, they are not subservient to … Continue reading »

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 2: Ele Facts; Kaavan & Saheli, At Least They Had Each Other For a Little While
AbZOOlutely Not** or The Controversy of Zoos & Others Keeping Elephants in Captivity

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 2: Ele Facts; Kaavan & Saheli, At Least They Had Each Other For a Little While

The male elephant was able to tolerate his time in captivity as long as he had his female companion, Saheli. But suddenly one day Saheli died and Kaavan was never the same again. They had spent 22 years together in the Islamabad Zoo and at that age elephants are in the prime of their lives. … Continue reading »

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 1: Animated Video Brings Kaavan the Elephant’s Story to Life in a Beautiful Way
AbZOOlutely Not** or The Controversy of Zoos & Others Keeping Elephants in Captivity

A Zoo Elephant’s Road to Freedom, A Look Back, Part 1: Animated Video Brings Kaavan the Elephant’s Story to Life in a Beautiful Way

From the trauma of being captured from the wild (as his mama lay dying) to the years he spent suffering in the Islamabad zoo, our elephant Kaavan endured a life of both physical and emotional pain. Kaavan’s rescue & release to a sanctuary was the greatest gift humans could give to this elephant. It was … Continue reading »

Just Look at Him Now!: Our Elephant Kaavan Is Thriving at Sanctuary One Year On From His Wretched Existence at Islamabad Zoo
Spas For Elephants or The Sanctuary Life

Just Look at Him Now!: Our Elephant Kaavan Is Thriving at Sanctuary One Year On From His Wretched Existence at Islamabad Zoo

This is Kaavan, happy at sanctuary. The Sri Lankan bull elephant was rescued (by #FourPaws & #FreetheWild) from the #IslamabadZoo in Pakistan almost one year ago (29 Nov 2020).     As a captive zoo elephant for most of his life Kaavan, upon arrival at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary, had some adjustments to make. He … Continue reading »

Social Media, a High Profile Celebrity and a Song Helped #FreeKaavan: Can Other Captive & Zoo Elephants Benefit From This Wave of Compassion as Well? : #FreeLucy #FreeBilly #FreeMundi
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Social Media, a High Profile Celebrity and a Song Helped #FreeKaavan: Can Other Captive & Zoo Elephants Benefit From This Wave of Compassion as Well? : #FreeLucy #FreeBilly #FreeMundi

Social media helped save a zoo elephant; it didn’t hurt that Cher came onboard, writing the song ‘Walls’ for Kaavan who served as her inspiration. What caught Cher’s eye was a campaign on Twitter, which gained momentum from Facebook and from signatures on a petition site all in support of a Sri Lankan bull elephant … Continue reading »