A once lonely elephant has been seen splashing around and relaxing in the pool of his new jungle home in Cambodia.
The 37-year-old male jumbo Kaavan, 37, was rescued by the singer Cher and a team of animal activists to free him from deplorable conditions in an Islamabad zoo in 2020.
After being moved from the zoo in a military-style operation, he was taken to a wildlife sanctuary in Siem Reap to live out the rest of his days in happiness.
Kaavan - who spent a total of 35 years in captivity - suffered mental health issues after his mate died in 2012.
He was dubbed the "world's loneliest elephant" due to spending the next eight years alone in the awful facility.
But his caretakers claim that returning to the wild has done wonders to rehabilitate the gentle giant.
Footage shows the adorable elephant enjoying an entire pond to himself while splashing water around on a hot afternoon in the 25,000-acre Kulen Prum Tep Wildlife Sanctuary on May 26.
A volunteer from Cambodia’s Save Elephant Foundation said: "On a very hot afternoon, Kaavan showed us his favourite way to relax and cool down. He now has a new life and the wild did wonderful transformations on him."
The jumbo, originally from Sri Lanka, was given as a "gift" to Pakistan in 1985 when he was only one year old.
A similar report from the end of last year suggested the jumbo was thriving after his relocation.
Dr Amir Khalil, from the global animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS, says Kaavan the elephant has rediscovered his natural instincts in the Cambodian jungle a year after he was rescued.
Kaavan previously spent 35 years in captivity, and since his partner's death in 2012, he has spent the past eight years alone.
However, one year on from his rescue, he was flourishing in his new home at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.
Dr Amir, FOUR PAWS veterinarian, said: "He has rediscovered his natural instincts and can enjoy having other elephants around.
"While Kaavan has not yet been socialised with other elephants, the team at CWS continues to monitor his development and will determine if he becomes interested in having a companion.
"Until then, neighbouring enclosures allow for the elephants to get used to each other’s smell and touch each other’s trunks, a friendly gesture.
"35 years in captivity causes a lot of trauma but Kaavan is making great progress, roaming around his spacious jungle enclosure and enjoying baths in his pond.
"Back in the zoo in Pakistan, he was showing severe behavioural problems, shaking his head and pacing back and forth in the dreary enclosure."
Kaavan's new home was found after conservationists and singer Cher won a legal battle to set him free.
He had been stuck in deplorable conditions in Islamabad's Marghazar Zoo, after his mate was said to have died of sepsis in 2012.
This made him the only elephant in Pakistan and international media gave him the title of loneliest elephant in the world.
His case eventually caught the attention of singer Cher who joined in the legal battle to get the zoo to release him and, after five years, the High Court of Pakistan finally agreed to release Kaavan from his cage in the zoo.
Cher even made the trip out to accompany him on the trip to his new home.
Kaavan was transported from Pakistan to Siem Reap by plane and the team had to use creative techniques to ensure the process was stress-free for the elephant.
Since Kavaan's rescue, the Islamabad High Court announced a ban on the import of new elephants into the country.
Dr Amir said: "Kaavan’s rescue was an extraordinary experience.
"We transferred an elephant from Pakistan to Cambodia during a global pandemic, together with Cher, who helped with the rescue alongside the organisation and national authorities.
"I’m proud we were part of this truly unique story."
