Cher Falls in Love with Pakistan For Freeing Kaavan The Elephant

Did this just happen? Yes, it did!

By Ummara Sheraz | 9:41 am | May 22, 2020
'Cher and the Loneliest Elephant' - cher roots for kaavan the elephant

We’ve all heard about Kaavan the elephant at this point, and his dramatic rescue by advocate Owais Awan from the clutches of Islamabad Zoo. Well, this story keeps getting better.

Kaavan and many other animals dying of neglect at the Islamabad Zoo are now headed towards sanctuaries after the Islamabad High Court ruled that the zoo does not have the facilities to care for these poor animals.

While fatal neglect of animals is nothing new in Pakistan, the touching story of the 36-year-old elephant Kaavan grabbed global headlines. But no one, absolutely no one, would have predicted what happened next.

📢 For the latest Entertainment news, videos and gossip join Lens WhatsApp Group now!

News of the landmark judgment reached Cher. Yes, the American Goddess of Pop herself, that Cher! Even she was rooting for Kaavan.

Here’s what she tweeted last night:

Cher even thanked the Pakistani government for the decision against the Murghazaar Zoo in Islamabad. This is a huge PR win for Pakistan internationally, and there’s no two ways about it.

Having lived in captivity all his life, this Asian elephant is finally free and on his way to a sanctuary.

ALSO READ

This Poor Bear Cub Highlights How Badly Islamabad Zoo Treats Its Animals [Video]

Social media loses their minds over Cher and Kaavan

People lost their minds as the Believe singer celebrated the court verdict setting Kaavaan free and headed to a sanctuary.

In case people are wondering how did this happen, here’s why. Cher is a partner with the people behind ‘Free the Wild‘, an organization dedicated to saving neglected animals in captivity.

Free the Wild was involved with Owais Awan and a local organization ‘Friends of Islamabad Zoo‘ to help free Kaavan.

They even had the government involved in this effort.

 

The Islamabad High Court judgment that allowed Kavaan to be set free also directs the government to devise a policy to control the stray dog population. The policy must be based on best practices rather than shooting the strays, which is an inhumane practice.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, in his judgment, cited a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

“A good deed done to an animal is as meritorious as a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as an act of cruelty to a human being.”

Kaavan versus Murghazaar Zoo

The Islamabad High Court directed Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to consult with Sri Lankan High Commission in Pakistan to relocate Kaavan to an appropriate sanctuary within 30 days.

The rest of the animals that were also facing neglect at the hands of the Murghazaar Zoo administration will also be relocated to sanctuaries within 60 days.

Why are these sanctuaries preferred over zoos? Animal sanctuaries keep wild animals in their natural habitat and open space. Although these animals are not released into the wild, their chances of survival and leading a healthy life are maximized at sanctuaries.

ALSO READ

Snow Leopard Hunted Down By Locals in Swat [Pictures]

Urban development has all but destroyed most wildlife habitats. Then there’s also the issue of setting animals born and bred in captivity like Kaavan into the wild. Kaavan has only known life in a zoo since the age of one when he was brought to Pakistan in 1985.

Elephants are social animals and he had been depressed in solitude since the death of his companion, Saheli in 2012. In a sanctuary he can finally be a part of a herd, like elephants should be.