In the latest development about Kavaan elephant relocation from Islamabad Marghazar Zoo, the Islamabad Wildlife Board member ZB Mirza opposed the opinion of the Experts Committee to relocate the elephant to the UK, the US, Sri Lanka or Cambodia, reported 24NewsHD TV channel as per documents available.

Islamabad Wildlife Board member Mirza had expressed concerns over the relocation of the Kaavan elephant to another country. Originally a committee including two Pakistani experts, formed to relocate the elephant, had agreed on the relocation of the elephant to the UK, US, Sri Lanka or Cambodia. 

The committee had also suggested inviting two female elephants for the Kaavan elephant with hope that the elephant will soon mingle with them. 

The TV channel reported that all the suggestions in the committee of the experts were ignored. “Transfer of Kaavan elephant to another country could be dangerous,” Islamabad Wildlife Board member ZB Mirza opposed as per the documents.

Mirza said there are about 70 percent chances of Kavaan’s death during the relocation and 100 percent death threat if located to other elephant sanctuaries, the document reads.

There is an acre of land available for Kavaan while an additional eight to ten acres of land has been proposed for the elephant, the document reads.

On May 21, Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a landmark judgment ordered shifting of the lonely elephant Kaavan of the Marghazar Zoo Islamabad, who lives in a deplorable condition, to a secure shelter. The court had also ordered the move of all animals of Marghazar Zoo to safe shelters within 60 days.

The plight of Kaavan, a depressed elephant who had spent nearly three decades being confined to a small cage in Islamabad Zoo, has been often highlighted by national, international media and animal rights associations. 

Kaavan was brought to Islamabad Zoo from Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s, and spent the remaining time in more loneliness, even more, when his long-time companion female elephant Saheli died in 2012. Zookeepers told the media that the elephant became depressed after the death of his companion.