Cher went to Pakistan to say goodbye to the elephant she helped free

The artist has struggled for years to have the pachyderm – who has lived in chains in recent years – be transferred to a shelter in Cambodia.

American singer Cher, who campaigned for an elephant living in dire conditions at a zoo in Islamabad, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday 27-N, before the animal was transferred to a reserve in Cambodia.

The celebrated artist, who has fought for years to save the elephant Kaavan and contributed financially to the costs of his relocation, arrived this week in Islamabad to see the pachyderm before Sunday you fly by cargo plane to an animal reserve in Cambodia.

“Appreciating her efforts to (secure) a Kaavan retreat to an elephant sanctuary, the prime minister thanked Cher for her campaign and role in that regard,” a statement from Khan’s office said.

In a tweet, Cher thanked the prime minister for giving her “the chance to take Kaavan to Cambodia”.

The situation of Kaavan, who arrived in Pakistan shortly after his birth in 1985 and became an obese pachyderm chained for years, brought to light the state of the zoo in the Pakistani capital, so deplorable that a judge ordered all animals to be moved in May.

A team of veterinarians and caretakers from the Austrian animal protection organization Four Paws International, which created the campaign that saved Kaavan, spent months with him preparing for his trip.

In particular, they trained him to enter the metal box where he will be transferred to the airport.

Volunteers working with the elephant report that it reacts well to music. Artist Cher will have to sing a song or two for him before he leaves Islamabad.