In a black and white plaid shirt, a person resembling Cher feeds an orange to an elephant with its trunk. The majestic creature stands near a water-filled enclosure, backed by lush trees creating a captivating scene.
A woman in a denim jacket and dark skirt reminiscent of Cher's bold style stands facing an elephant near large, yellow pillars. The outdoor setting is completed with trees in the background.
An elephant with tusks stands on a stone path near a rustic building, much like a gentle giant cherishing its natural surroundings. The elephant's trunk is curved upwards, and it is enveloped by lush greenery at the base of a hill.

Cher and the loneliest Elephant

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·Completed

Follow the extraordinary journey of Kaavan, the world’s loneliest elephant, as Cher leads a daring mission to free him from 35 years of isolation.

Factsheet
Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

An incredible story in which a superstar flies across the world during a pandemic to save a bull elephant from 35 years of incarceration.

Kaavan has been dubbed the world’s loneliest elephant. He has spent more than three decades living in Marghazar Zoo, Islamabad. He has spent many of these years chained and alone since his partner died in 2012. For highly social creatures such as elephant, a partner’s death can induce chronic grief and loneliness. It has left the great, proud creature with permanent scars from his chains, obesity and psychosis brought on by isolation and boredom.

Kaavan’s ordeal is picked up on social media with videos and pictures of his lonely incarceration spreading. It comes to the attention of Rock superstar Cher. Without hesitation, she pulls celebrity strings and connects people and charities to end Kaavan’s plight and set him free.

Suddenly there is an extra pressure – the high courts in Pakistan have dictated the zoo’s immediate closure. It is now imperative to find Kaavan a new home – quickly!

But Kaavan’s journey to freedom is complex and fraught with danger. Cambodia seems like the perfect destination for Kaavan, but flying a four tonne bull elephant 2,500 miles is a logistical nightmare. Kaavan requires a custom-built travel crate and a massive cargo plane.

Training must begin immediately to get Kaavan used to his metallic travel crate. Its strange noises and cramped conditions must become second nature to him. Brilliant behaviour specialists and the dedicated veterinarian Dr Amir use noise and food to create an air of familiarity.
With the world suffering from a pandemic and Islamabad teetering on the edge of civil and political unrest, something unexpected happens – Cher makes it to Islamabad. She meets the great elephant himself and cements their connection. But time is running out; the zoo will close in a matter of days. Kaavan must leave.

The destination airport in Cambodia, Siem Reap, has been closed for six months due to COVID. Amazingly, strings have been pulled and it has reopened to enable Kaavan to land. There to greet his arrival are Cher, Buddhist monks and the world’s press.
After eight hours of flight and four more hours of driving, Kaavan arrives at his future home. For such a dramatic moment the mood is surprisingly serene. The crate is carefully lined up against an open entrance to his large, specially-built enclosure. Before he’s allowed to fully roam free, Kaavan must acclimatise.
For Dr Amir, it is now time to say farewell. It is a tearful goodbye, but he knows the hardest part of love is the letting go.
But for Kaavan, the long journey is only just the beginning. Cher, Dr Amir and the team look on as Kaavan tentatively leaves his crate – and walks into his new life.

Team

Written and directed by Jonathan Finnigan
Executive producers Phil Fairclough, Mike Kemp, Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A co-production of Terra Mater Factual Studios, Smithsonian Networks and Nutshell TV in association with Two Wise Monkeys

Awards & Recognitions

New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Gold World Medal (Category: Documentary: Heroes) 2022
New York, USA New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Bronze World Medal (Category: Craft: Program: Best Original Music/Lyrics) 2022
Rotterdam, Netherlands WFFR - Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam Official Selection 2022
Lihula, Estonia MAFF - Matsalu Nature Film Festival Official Selection 2022
WCSFP - World Congress of Science & Factual Producers Buzzies Awards Nomination (Categories: Green Impact of the Year, Best Natural History Long Format) 2021
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