AKP Phnom Penh, November 30, 2020 --

Kaavan, a male elephant, arrived this afternoon in Siem Reap province of Cambodia after hours on a plane from Pakistan. 

“Cambodia gave new habitat, new life and new hope to this loneliest elephant,” said H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, who presided over the welcoming ceremony held at Siem Reap International Airport. 

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Environment, Kaavan’s new home in Cambodia is Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary, in Oddar Meanchey province in the northern section of the country. It is one of 68 protected areas and corridors in the Kingdom. Cambodia is moderately rich in biological diversity and levels of endemism. Cambodia is home for some world’s rare species.  

“Kaavan is one of an endangered breed of Asian elephants that exists in Cambodia. Pachyderms can live for many years and even at 36, we hope that he will contribute to the gene pool,” it said.  
 
Once Kaavan feels at home in a controlled setting, he will be released in the wildlife sanctuary, where some 600 Asian elephants live in peace and tranquility, it added. 

Several hundred Asian elephants like Kaavan live peacefully in Cambodia. Illegal activities that once threatened the population have been curbed significantly in recent years thanks to the aggressive enforcement of protective regulations, said the statement.  

“Cambodia has a tradition of welcoming people and creatures from far and wide. We salute the efforts of ‘Four Paws’, of American entertainer ‘Cher’ and the many others who made Kaavan’s journey possible,” it underlined. 

                                                          (Photo: Ministry of Environment)

By C. Nika