Kaavan, Pakistan's lonely elephant, starts new life in Cambodia

World News: Pakistan’s lonely elephant Kaavan arrived in Cambodia by cargo plane on Monday to start a new life with 600 fellow pachyderms at a local sanctuary, the result of years of campaigning for his relocation by American singer Cher.

Image Source: Google

Cher was on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia’s second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet the elephant and met the vets who accompanied Kaavan on his long journey in a custom-made crate, with more than 200 kg (441 lbs) of food to keep him busy.

Animal rescue organisation Four Paws said 36-year-old Kaavan, who had spent most of his life at Islamabad Zoo without a companion, would be released from his crate in daylight on Tuesday at a sanctuary.

Kaavan, Pakistan's lonely elephant, starts new life in Cambodia

“Kaavan was eating, was not stressed, he was even a little bit sleeping, standing leaning at the crate wall. He behaves like a Frequent Flyer,” said Amir Khalil, a Four Paws vet.

“The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant.”

Image Source: Google
The multi award-winning singer posed for pictures at the airport in sunglasses and a black facemask holding up a Pakistan vehicle license plate bearing her name and that of the elephant.

Kaavan has finally arrived in Cambodia!! and as promised @Cher is there at the airport waiting to welcome him and ready to escort him to his new life at the Cambodia Wildlife sanctuary 🐘❤ #FreeKaavan #FreeTheWiild pic.twitter.com/FXZuBQFP1Q

— Team Cher Universe (@TCherUniverse) November 30, 2020

Cher had written songs pressing for Kaavan’s release from grim, isolated conditions at Islamabad Zoo and she had spent the last few days with him in Pakistan.

Kaavan, Pakistan's lonely elephant, starts new life in Cambodia

Dozens of wildlife workers and experts led by Four Paws had used a winch and rope to pull the sedated elephant into the crate before he was loaded onto the Russian-built cargo plane.

His crate had the words #FreeKaavan painted on the outside.

Kaavan, Pakistan's lonely elephant, starts new life in Cambodia

Neth Pheaktra, Secretary of State and spokesman of Cambodia’s Environment Ministry, lauded Four Paws and Cher for their efforts to help Kaavan and said Cambodia would be the ideal home for him.

“Cambodia is pleased to welcome Kaavan. No longer will he be the world’s loneliest elephant,” he said at a welcome ceremony.

News Source: Reuters

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1,300-year-old Vishnu Hindu temple discovered in northwest Pakistan

1,300-year-old Vishnu Hindu temple discovered in northwest Pakistan

 Announcing the discovery on Thursday, Fazle Khaliq of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology said that the temple discovered is of Lord Vishnu.

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World News: A Hindu temple, believed to have been constructed 1,300 years ago, has been discovered by Pakistani and Italian archaeological experts at a mountain in northwest Pakistan’s Swat district.

The discovery was made during an excavation at Barikot Ghundai.

Announcing the discovery on Thursday, Fazle Khaliq of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology said that the temple discovered is of Lord Vishnu.

It was built by the Hindus 1,300 years ago during the Hindu Shahi period, he said.

The Hindu Shahis or Kabul Shahis (850–1026 CE) was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kabul Valley (eastern Afghanistan), Gandhara (modern-day Pakistan), and present-day northwestern India.

During their excavation, the archaeologists also found traces of cantonment and watchtowers near the temple site.

The experts also found a tank near the temple site which they believe was utilized by the Hindus for bathing before worship.

Khaliq said that Swat district is home to a thousand-year-old archaeological sites and therefore the traces of the Hindu Shahi period are found for the first time within the area.

Dr Luka, the head of the Italian archaeological mission, said this was the first temple of the Ghandhara civilisation discovered in Swat district. Swat district is among the top 20 sites in Pakistan which is home to every kind of tourism like natural beauty, religious tourism, cultural tourism and archaeological sites.

Several places of worship of Buddhism also are situated in Swat district.

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