Elephant’s plight sparks uproar in Pakistan zoo

The plight of Kaavan, a mentally tormented bull elephant confined to a small pen in Islamabad Zoo for nearly three decades, has galvanised a rare animal rights campaign in Pakistan.

Local and international animal rights organisations launched the campaign a year ago after reports that keepers were beating the elephant and denying him food.

An online petition has gained more than 280,000 signatures and small protests have been held outside the zoo.