A Pakistani court has approved the relocation of a mistreated elephant from a small Islamabad zoo to an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia following a campaign by animal rights activists backed by the pop star Cher.
The 33-year-old Asian Elephant named Kaavan was chained up, isolated and denied proper care during the hot summer months. Conservation experts say elephants need a roaming area of 150 square kilometres, but Kaavan was kept in an enclosure of less than 2.5 kilometres with little water to bathe in and an inappropriate diet.
"This is a sad step to take, but the correct one for Kaavan," Mian Aslam Amin, Pakistan's federal minister for climate change told The National.
The ministry set up a technical team under the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board which recommended that Kaavan be retired from zoo life and rehomed at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We want to ensure a totally safe relocation without any harm to Kaavan,” Mr Amin said.
Experts will visit from Cambodia to advise on plans for the journey, after which Kaavan is expected to be moved by plane. Once in Cambodia, he will “live in wilderness for the remainder of his life,” Mr Amin said.
Kaavan was given to Pakistan as a young calf in 1985 by the government of Sri Lanka but in recent years he was chained for the safety of the visitors. The elephant was being kept alone after his only companion, an elephant named Saheli, died in 2012.
Wildlife experts said he has recently shown symptoms of mental illness and had become aggressive.
Kaavan’s case gained worldwide attention, including a petition signed by more than 400,000 people to free the chained elephant. He even gained a celebrity fan – the singer Cher – who championed his cause on the world stage.
Eventually the Pakistan courts intervened and ordered Kaavan’s freedom in May, instructing wildlife officials to send him to a suitable sanctuary in short order.
On hearing of the court order for Kaavan’s freedom last month, the pop star and animal rights activist tweeted: “It’s so emotional for us that I have to sit down.”
The Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary said Kaavan is expected to arrive in six to eight weeks.
“Huge thanks to the many people who have fought for his freedom over the last five years, thank you too, to those who signed petitions asking for his release,” a post on the organisation’s Facebook page read.
“Now our task is to prepare for his arrival, including building him a shelter to suit his stature.”
Safwan Shahab Ahmad of the Pakistan Wildlife Foundation has monitored Kaavan since 1992 and is disappointed to see the old elephant go.
"Zoo officials have not provided him [with a] natural habitat," he told The National.
He believes Kaavan has been suffering from mental illness since 2006 and hopes his new home will provide him with a safe environment to spend the rest of his days.
The average lifespan of an Asian elephant is 47 years but in the wild they can live up to 60. The species, which is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declined by an estimated 50 per cent over the past 75 years.
May’s court order also issued a ruling ordering the temporary relocation of several other animals in the Islamabad zoo, including lions, bears and birds, until it improves the living standards of the animals under its care.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW
Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
Pool B – Amman Citadel, APB Dubai Sharks, Jebel Ali Dragons 2, Saudi Rugby
Pool C – Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2, Roberts Construction, Dubai Exiles 2
Pool D – Dubai Tigers, UAE Shaheen, Sharjah Wanderers, Amman Citadel 2
Gulf U19 Boys
Pool A – Deira International School, Dubai Hurricanes, British School Al Khubairat, Jumeirah English Speaking School B
Pool B – Dubai English Speaking College 2, Jumeirah College, Dubai College A, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 2
Pool C – Bahrain Colts, Al Yasmina School, DESC, DC B
Pool D – Al Ain Amblers, Repton Royals, Dubai Exiles, Gems World Academy Dubai
Pool E – JESS A, Abu Dhabi Sharks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins 1, EC
Gulf Women
Pool A – Kuwait Scorpions, Black Ruggers, Dubai Sports City Eagles, Dubai Hurricanes 2
Pool B – Emirates Firebirds, Sharjah Wanderers, RAK Rides, Beirut Aconites
Pool C – Dubai Hurricanes, Emirates Firebirds 2, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Transforma Panthers
Pool D – AUC Wolves, Dubai Hawks, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers
Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Second Test, Day 2:
South Africa 335 & 75/1 (22.0 ov)
England 205
South Africa lead by 205 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Look%20Both%20Ways
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Wanuri%20Kahiu%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Lili%20Reinhart%2C%20Danny%20Ramirez%2C%20David%20Corenswet%2C%20Luke%20Wilson%2C%20Nia%20Long%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
beabadoobee
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
CREW
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
