|
Cher was on the tarmac at the airport of
Cambodia's second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet Kaavan and was
photographed in sunglasses, black face mask and white jacket
meeting the vets who accompanied the elephant, who made the long
journey in a custom-made crate.
Animal rescue organisation Four Paws said Kaavan had another
90-minute drive ahead and would likely arrive at the sanctuary
after nightfall, so he would be released in daylight on Tuesday.
"Kaavan was eating, was not stressed, he was even a little bit
sleeping, standing leaning at the crate wall. He behaves like a
Frequent Flyer," said Amir Khalil, a Four Paws vet.
"The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when
you transfer an elephant."
Cher had written songs pressing for Kaavan's release from grim,
isolated conditions at Islamabad Zoo and she had spent the last
few days with him in Pakistan.
The multi award-winning singer has been with a film crew
documenting Kaavan's story and said she was proud to be part of
an effort to free an elephant she said had been shackled to a
shed for 17 years.
Dozens of wildlife workers and experts led by Four Paws used a
winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate
before he was loaded onto the Russian-built cargo plane.
Kaavan's handlers took more than 200 kg (441 lbs) of food
including bananas and melons to keep him busy on his journey.
(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Additional reporting by Charlotte
Greenfield in Islamabad; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by
Raissa Kasolowsky)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
