Original subtitles

["SONG FOR THE LONELY" BY CHER]

♪ WHEN YOU'RE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF NOWHERE ♪

Narrator: HE'S CALLED THE WORLD'S LONELIEST ELEPHANT.

CAPTIVE FOR 35 YEARS IN A RUNDOWN ZOO.

Khan: YOU CAN JUST FEEL HIS GRIEF.

Cowne: STILL BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES NOW.

HE WAS A TOTALLY BROKEN ANIMAL.

Narrator: BUT WHEN A GLOBAL MOVEMENT

PLEAS TO FREE KAAVAN,

THE GODDESS OF POP TAKES NOTICE.

Cher: I WAS REALLY ANGRY.

Narrator: NOW AFTER A FIVE-YEAR CAMPAIGN,

HE HAS THE CHANCE FOR A BETTER LIFE.

Thompson: I WANT TO OFFER HIM AN ELEPHANT'S LIFE.

Narrator: BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT,

AND A PANDEMIC HAS THE WORLD IN LOCKDOWN.

♪ AND THIS IS A SONG

IT'LL TAKE HUGE FAITH.

Dr. Amir: DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

Narrator: AND AN ARMY OF PEOPLE...

TO MOVE AN UNPREDICTABLE ELEPHANT...

Dr. Amir: HE IS DANGEROUS, RISKY, IS A POWER MACHINE.

Narrator: THOUSANDS OF MILES.

Cowne: IT WAS PRETTY RISKY FOR HIM,

BUT VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE PEOPLE ONBOARD.

Narrator: CAN THE PASSION OF A SUPERSTAR

HELP TO SAVE HIM?

[METAL DOOR BANGING]

Cher: I WANTED TO FREE HIM.

I KNEW THAT WE HAD TO GET HIM OUT.

Dr. Amir: STOP, STOP, STOP!

[TENSE ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]

Narrator: KAAVAN, A MAGNIFICENT BULL ELEPHANT,

HAS BEEN HELD IN PAKISTAN'S ISLAMABAD ZOO FOR 35 YEARS

IN PITIFUL CONDITIONS.

LIKE ANY BULL ELEPHANT, KAAVAN IS DANGEROUS

AND HAS KILLED TWO OF HIS KEEPERS.

IN 2012, HIS ONLY COMPANION DIES FROM NEGLECT.

CHAINED UP AND ALONE,

KAAVAN CAN'T EVEN WALK THE LENGTH OF HIS ENCLOSURE,

LET ALONE BATHE IN HIS DRIED-UP POOL.

BUT EVEN IN THIS SORRY STATE,

HE'S STILL THE ZOO'S STAR ATTRACTION.

THEN, IN 2015, A TRAINEE VET FROM AMERICA

VISITS THE ZOO ON A TRIP TO SEE HER PAKISTANI FAMILY.

Khan: HERE'S THIS SOLITARY ELEPHANT,

JUST IN THIS BARE SHED.

AND THAT WEAVING BEHAVIOR WHERE HE WAS JUST MOVING

BY HIMSELF BACK AND FORTH, THAT REALLY STRUCK ME.

Narrator: HIS WEIRD ROCKING AMUSES VISITORS,

WHO MISTAKENLY CALL KAAVAN "THE DANCING ELEPHANT".

BUT THANKS TO HER TRAINING,

SAMAR KNOWS THIS IS A SIGN OF TERRIBLE BOREDOM.

Khan: I KNEW ELEPHANTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INCREDIBLY SOCIAL

AND INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT ANIMALS.

AND TO SEE HIM WITH NO SOURCE OF ENRICHMENT AT ALL.

I KNEW THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS REALLY STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR

FOR ANIMALS WHO HAVE FACED SEVERE

EITHER MENTAL OR PHYSICAL NEGLECT.

Narrator: KAAVAN'S SWAYING INTENSIFIES

AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS FEMALE COMPANION SAHELI IN 2012.

Khan: FOR ME, ACTUALLY, THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENT

WAS SEEING THIS PHOTO OF KAAVAN AND SAHELI

AFTER SHE HAD PASSED.

ELEPHANTS, THEY'RE LIKE THESE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT

AND INCREDIBLY SOCIAL ANIMALS.

AND HE'S REACHING OUT TO SAHELI,

AND YOU CAN JUST FEEL HIS GRIEF.

I FOUND OUT THAT THE REASON WHY SAHELI PASSED

WAS BECAUSE OF GANGRENE FROM HER CHAINS,

AND THAT POOR FOOT CARE RESULTED IN HER DYING.

AND I KNEW KAAVAN NOW IS WEARING THOSE SAME CHAINS,

AND IF HE DOESN'T GET OUT,

THEN THE SAME THING IS GONNA HAPPEN TO HIM.

[DRAMATIC PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

Narrator: AT 36 YEARS OLD, KAAVAN SHOULD BE IN HIS PRIME.

BUT HE'S A FAR CRY FROM THE ENDEARING CALF

THAT ARRIVED IN PAKISTAN IN 1985.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY A GIFT FROM SRI LANKA

TO PRESIDENT GENERAL ZIA'S 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

BUT NOW, THE DELIGHT OF A YOUNG GIRL HAS BECOME A TRAGEDY.

SAMAR KHAN BECOMES DESPERATE TO SAVE HIM.

Khan: MY MOM REALLY ENCOURAGED ME TO ACT,

AND I DECIDED TO OPEN UP A CHANGE.ORG PETITION,

AND I OPENED UP A FACEBOOK PAGE

CALLED "FREE KAAVAN THE ELEPHANT".

Narrator: IN SEPTEMBER 2015,

SHE LAUNCHES HER CAMPAIGN TO FREE HIM...

AND FACEBOOK EXPLODES.

Khan: I WOKE UP AND MY PHONE WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH

'CAUSE THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

WERE WRITING INTO THE PAGE, SIGNING THE PETITION.

Narrator: IN TORONTO, CANADA,

PAKISTANI EX-PAT ANIKA SLEEM ANSWERS THE CALL.

Sleem: FREE KAAVAN!

Narrator: ANIKA JOINS THE CRY

THAT'S BEEN GATHERING MOMENTUM ON TWITTER FOR MONTHS,

WHEN A SUPERSTAR WITH A PASSION FOR ANIMALS TAKES NOTICE.

Sleem: AND THEN ONE DAY AT MIDNIGHT, I OPEN MY TWITTER

AND I GET A TWEET FROM CHER...

SAYING, "JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH COOL BRITISH FRIEND.

ALIGNING PEOPLE TO FIX THIS."

IT WAS ACTUALLY CHER.

Cher: ALL THE KIDS ON MY TWITTER SITE

STARTED TO INUNDATE ME WITH "SAVE KAAVAN".

AND I THOUGHT, I CANNOT SAVE AN ELEPHANT IN PAKISTAN,

BECAUSE I HAVE NO STREET CRED.

HOW AM I GONNA DO THIS?

Narrator: SO CHER CONTACTS A FRIEND

WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH RELOCATING ELEPHANTS IN AFRICA.

Cher: I MET THIS MAN, MARK COWNE.

HE'S BOB GELDOF'S MANAGER.

AND HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT ELEPHANTS

THAT HE'D SAVED IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND SO I JUST CALL HIM, AND I SAY,

"WELL, THERE'S THIS ELEPHANT I WANT TO SAVE,

AND I DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT."

AND HE SAID, "I'LL GO RIGHT AWAY."

[SOFT MUSIC]

Cowne: IT'S CHER!

SHE'S A GREAT FRIEND.

OF COURSE, I SAID YES.

Narrator: MARK COWNE RACES TO ISLAMABAD TO SEE KAAVAN.

Cowne: WHEN I FIRST MET KAAVAN, IT WAS SO SAD.

IT STILL BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES NOW.

HE WAS A TOTALLY BROKEN ANIMAL.

Cher: I SAW A PICTURE, AND THE PICTURE WAS SO HORRIBLE.

AND HE WAS SHACKLED.

AND IN THIS SHED...

CONSTANTLY.

AND I JUST...

I WAS PISSED OFF TOO.

I WAS REALLY ANGRY.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Narrator: MARK COWNE APPEALS TO THE ZOO OFFICIALS.

Cher: HE SAID, "TAKE HIS CHAINS OFF,

PUT WATER IN THE LITTLE POOL,

PUT A TOP ON THE SHED,

AND GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH."

AND THEY DID IT.

Narrator: BUT THEIR OPTIMISM IS SHORT-LIVED.

BEYOND THESE SMALL CHANGES,

KAAVAN'S SITUATION DOESN'T IMPROVE FOR TWO MORE YEARS.

[EMOTIONAL MUSIC]

SO IN 2018, CHER LAUNCHES FREE THE WILD,

A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS.

SHE BEGINS A RELENTLESS TWITTER CAMPAIGN

TO PERSUADE THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE KAAVAN.

Cher: WELL, I DID THAT.

I TWEETED AND SAID I WOULD GET ON MY KNEES.

BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP.

[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC]

Narrator: CHER EVEN RECORDS A SPECIAL SONG, "WALLS",

ABOUT THE LONELY ELEPHANT'S PLIGHT.

♪ NEVER THOUGHT I'D EVER END UP LIKE THIS ♪

BUT NOTHING CHANGES FOR KAAVAN.

HIS DIET IS TERRIBLE.

HIS PEN IS SMALL AND SQUALID.

AND WORSE STILL...

HE'S ALONE.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS NATURALLY LIVE IN SMALL FAMILY HERDS

AND NEED THE FREEDOM TO ROAM.

Cher: THEY'RE SO SOCIAL, THEY'RE LIKE WE ARE.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE WE ARE. WE'RE VERY MUCH THE SAME.

THEY'RE SO FAMILY-ORIENTED AND THEY'RE SO EMOTIONAL.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Narrator: FEW ZOOS CAN PROPERLY CARE FOR ELEPHANTS.

BUT ISLAMABAD ZOO CONTINUES TO HANG ON

TO ITS STAR ATTRACTION.

IN 2020, A PASSIONATE YOUNG PAKISTANI LAWYER

TAKES THE ZOO TO COURT.

HE DEMANDS THAT KAAVAN'S RIGHTS AS AN ANIMAL BE RECOGNIZED

AND HE BE MOVED TO A BETTER FACILITY.

Swan: CHER, THROUGH FREE THE WILD,

WAS ONE OF THE PARTIES IN THE PETITION.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Narrator: TO EVERYONE'S SURPRISE, THEY SUCCEED.

Swan: OUR CASE BECAME ONE OF THE LANDMARK PRECEDENT

WHICH HAS RECOGNIZED ANIMAL RIGHTS FOR THE FIRST TIME

IN TRADITIONAL HISTORY OF PAKISTAN.

Narrator: AND THEN, IN MAY 2020,

PAKISTAN'S HIGH COURT DELIVERS AN ASTONISHING JUDGMENT.

NOT ONLY MUST KAAVAN BE FREED,

BUT THE ENTIRE ZOO MUST CLOSE.

IT'S A LEGAL TRIUMPH BUT A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE.

THE COURT RULES THAT KAAVAN AND ALL OTHER ANIMALS

MUST GO IN 30 DAYS.

BUT IT'S SUMMER 2020,

THE MIDST OF THE WORST GLOBAL EMERGENCY SINCE WORLD WAR II.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Cher: AND SO THEN I SAID, "DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO

TO ISLAMABAD DURING COVID?

THAT'S KIND OF NOT A GOOD IDEA. WE'RE GOING TO DIE."

AND WE JUST DECIDED, "OH, THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT

AS MUCH AS SAVING THIS ELEPHANT."

[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC]

GO SAVE AN ELEPHANT IN ISLAMABAD

WAS LIKE THAT WAS WAY BEYOND MY JOB DESCRIPTION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST HAVE FEELINGS,

AND WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE.

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

Narrator: THE PANDEMIC BUYS EVERYONE SOME TIME,

WHILE FREE THE WILD DESPERATELY SEARCHES

FOR KAAVAN'S NEW HOME.

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

FREE THE WILD TURNS TO RENOWN ELEPHANT RESCUER LEK CHAILERT.

SHE CARES FOR 200 ELEPHANTS AT HER SANCTUARY IN THAILAND.

[ELEPHANT SQUEAKING]

Narrator: LEK AND HER HUSBAND, DEREK THOMPSON,

OFFER KAAVAN A HOME AT A SISTER SANCTUARY IN CAMBODIA,

IF THE ZOO WILL RELEASE HIM.

[DELICATE PIANO MUSIC]

[GENTLE MUSIC]

Narrator: AT THE CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY,

THE ELEPHANTS HAVE SPACE TO ROAM IN THE PROTECTED FOREST.

Cowne: CAMBODIA WAS THE BEST CHOICE BY FAR FOR KAAVAN.

BUT FOR US, IT'S A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE.

Narrator: IT WILL TAKE SEVEN HOURS BY AIR...

THEN FOUR HOURS BY TRUCK TO DELIVER KAAVAN TO HIS NEW HOME.

Cowne: WE'RE GONNA NEED A MASSIVE AIRCRAFT.

HOW THE HELL ARE WE GONNA GET THAT NOW?

Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR A CARGO PLANE

BIG ENOUGH TO TRANSPORT A BULL ELEPHANT BEGINS.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

THEY'LL ALSO HAVE TO BUILD A CRATE

THAT'S STRONG ENOUGH TO RESTRAIN KAAVAN...

AND THEN TRAIN HIM TO WILLINGLY ENTER IT.

IT'S A TALL ORDER.

FORTUNATELY, HELP IS AT HAND.

BY AUGUST, A TEAM FROM

THE GLOBAL ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION, FOUR PAWS,

IS ALREADLY WORKING HARD

TO RELOCATE ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS AT THE ZOO.

Dr. Amir: GOOD LUCK.

[LAUGHING]

Narrator: THEIR LEADER, DR. AMIR KHALIL,

IS KNOWN AS THE WAR VET.

HE'S DONE COUNTLESS HIGH-RISK ANIMAL RESCUES

FROM SYRIA, IRAQ, LIBYA, AND THE GAZA STRIP.

DR. AMIR MUST PREPARE KAAVAN PHYSICALLY FOR THE RELOCATION.

THE FIRST STEP: PUT HIM ON A DIET.

[DELICATE MUSIC]

BUT HE'S ALSO WORRIED ABOUT KAAVAN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

THE BULL ELEPHANT HAS KILLED TWO OF HIS PREVIOUS KEEPERS.

Dr. Amir: I MET HIM FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND I SAW, REALLY, AT THIS TIME A VERY ANGRY GUY.

HATE HUMAN BEING.

HE HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE FOR AN ANIMAL.

HE DON'T SEE US AS A HUMAN. HE SEE US LIKE MONSTERS.

[EMOTION@L

Narrator: NOW, WITH THREE MONTHS TO GO,

THEY TARGET LATE NOVEMBER FOR THE MOVE.

BUT THERE'S STILL NO AIRPLANE.

AND THEY'VE YET TO BUILD A CRATE.

FINALLY, THEY TRACK DOWN AN ILYUSHIN TRANSPORT PLANE

THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.

BUT THERE'S ONE CONDITION.

Dr. Amir: ALEXANDER...

KEN'S AIRCRAFT TAKES THREE METER 15 HIGH CRATES ATOP.

WIDTH IS TWO METER WIDE.

Alexander: THE THING IS THIS CAGE IS VERY HEAVY.

WHAT WILL BE THE ANTICIPATED WEIGHT OF THE CAGE

WITH ELEPHANT INSIDE?

Dr. Amir: GROSS WEIGHT, I WILL BRING IT TO 10 TON.

Narrator: KAAVAN AND THE CRATE CANNOT WEIGH

MORE THAN 10 TONS, OR THEY'LL NEED A BIGGER PLANE.

THANKS TO AMIR'S DIET, KAAVAN'S ALREADY SHED 500 POUNDS.

BUT HE NEEDS TO TRIM DOWN SOME MORE.

EVEN AT HIS SVELTE FLYING WEIGHT,

THE BULL ELEPHANT WILL REQUIRE

A SPECIALLY-CONSTRUCTED CRATE.

IT MUST BE AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE TO RESTRAIN HIM...

YET BIG ENOUGH FOR HIM TO WILLINGLY WALK IN.

AND IT'S GOT TO BE UNBREAKABLE

[HORN HONKING]

FOUR PAWS COMMISSIONED SOME LOCAL ENGINEERS TO BUILD IT...

FAST.

WITH FOUR WEEKS TO GO, DR. AMIR

AND TRANSPORT EXPERT ERNST-JAN KIP GO TO CHECK ON PROGRESS.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE ALARMING.

Kip: EVERYTHING HE CAN TOUCH WITH HIS TRUNK,

HE'LL DESTROY IT AND THE AIRPLANE WILL GO DOWN.

HE IS OVER FIVE TON OF MUSCLE AND POWER.

NICE DESIGNS, BUT IT'S NOT ELEPHANT PROOF.

Narrator: AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF,

THEY'VE PAINTED AN AFRICAN ELEPHANT ON THE SIDE.

Dr. Amir: SO, HERE, NO AFRICAN ELEPHANT.

MUST BE PAKISTANI. PAKISTANI KAAVAN.

[CHATTERING]

[DRAMATIC PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

Narrator: MEANWHILE, AT THE CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY,

FRANTIC CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY

TO BUILD A TEMPORARY NEW ENCLOSURE FOR KAAVAN'S ARRIVAL.

HIS INITIAL PEN IS LESS THAN AN ACRE

BUT A PARADISE COMPARED TO WHERE HE IS NOW.

AND MOST IMPORTANT, HE'LL HAVE COMPANY:

THE FIRST ELEPHANTS HE'LL INTERACT WITH IN EIGHT YEARS.

THERE ARE TWO WEEKS TO THE MOVE.

KAAVAN'S REINFORCED CRATE,

NOW PAINTED WITH AN ASIAN ELEPHANT, IS ON THE WAY.

EVERY HOUR COUNTS.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

NORMALLY, IT TAKES FOUR TO SIX WEEKS

TO CRATE TRAIN AN ELEPHANT.

Dr. Amir: STOP, STOP, STOP!

GO.

Narrator: DR. AMIR HAS ONLY 14 DAYS.

[METAL DOOR BANGING]

EVERYONE WATCHES ANXIOUSLY TO SEE HOW KAAVAN

WILL REACT TO THE CRATE.

BUT THEY MAKE A FATAL MISTAKE...

LEAVING THE DOORS ON.

[BANGING]

[TRADITIONAL EASTERN MUSIC]

BY MORNING, KAAVAN HAS TRASHED THE CRATE.

THEY'LL HAVE TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE...

MUCH STRONGER.

THEIR LIVES ON THE PLANE WILL DEPEND ON IT.

Kip: IF KAAVAN SMASHED THE DOOR OUT OF THE CRATE,

WHILE HE'S IN THE AIRPLANE,

YEAH, WE ARE ALL IN BIG TROUBLE.

MUST BE STRONGER AND MUST BE THICKER MATERIAL.

THE WELDING MUST BE MUCH BETTER.

[BANGING ON METAL]

Dr. Amir: YOU HAVE TO DO IT. AND...

Man: WE'RE CHECKING IT RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Amir: NO, YOU DON'T CHECK. YOU JUST DO IT.

[LAUGHING]

NO CHECK. NO

[BANGING ON METAL]

COME, KAAVAN.

Narrator: AT LEAST DR. AMIR CAN USE THE BROKEN CRATE

TO START KAAVAN'S TRAINING.

Dr. Amir: KAAVAN...

Narrator: AMIR COAXES KAAVAN IN WITH A FRUITY PRIZE.

Dr. Amir: COME.

DON'T BE AFRAID.

REALLY, COME.

I SWEAR, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

YOU WILL NOT FALL DOWN.

Narrator: AND A BURST OF FRANK SINATRA.

♪ I DID IT MY WAY

Dr. Amir: YES! A FIRST STEP, YES!

BRAVO! COME.

ONE MORE, ONE MORE.

COME, YOU'VE DONE IT ALREADY. [LAUGHING]

PATIENCE.

TRY TREAT HIM WITH RESPECT, OR SINGING TO HIM.

I MEAN, NO ONE LIKE MY VOICE,

SO, FINALLY I HAVE A BIG, GIANT ELEPHANT.

THE ONLY ONE I HAVE ON EARTH WHO LOVE MY VOICE.

YES, MY WAY! YOUR WAY.

[TENSE MUSIC] [CROW CAWING]

Narrator: KAAVAN'S MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

BUT WITH THE DAY'S TICKING BY, COVID HITS HARD.

[COUGHING]

SEVERAL TEAM MEMBERS GET SICK.

Cher: AND SO THEN I SAID, "DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO

TO ISLAMABAD DURING A COVID?

WE'RE GONNA-- WE SHOULD DIE."

Narrator: CHER'S PLANS TO PARTICIPATE

ARE NOW IN JEOPARDY.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

WITH JUST A WEEK TO GO,

KAAVAN IS GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HIS CRATE.

Schmidinger: GOOD BOY. COME HERE.

Narrator: BUT THERE'S A SUBTLE YET ALARMING CHANGE

IN KAAVAN'S MOOD.

Schmidinger: LOOK WHAT WE HERE. SO FRESH.

Narrator: FOUR PAWS TRAINER INGO SCHMIDINGER

NOTICES HE'S MORE AGGRESSIVE.

Schmidinger: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

THIS MORNING WE STARTED TO CHECK BACK ON HIM.

AND WHAT HAPPENED?

JUST ONE SECOND, BOOM.

THAT'S IT, ATTACK.

IT WAS A TYPICAL...

BOOM...

AGAINST THIS.

Dr. Amir: AGAINST THE WALL?

Schmidinger: YES, AGAINST THIS WALL.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Narrator: KAAVAN HAS ENTERED MUST.

IT'S A MATING CONDITION WHERE TESTOSTERONE SURGES

TO 60 TIMES THE NORMAL LEVEL.

MUST ELEPHANTS BECOME HYPER AGGRESSIVE.

Schmidinger: BULLS IN MUST SEE EVERY LITTLE THING AS A TARGET.

SO THEY ARE AIMING FOR KILLING.

[ELEPHANTS GROWLING]

Narrator: DESPITE THE DANGER,

THE TEAM MUST CONTINUE KAAVAN'S TRAINING.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

ONBOARD THE PLANE, ANY UNEXPECTED NOISE

COULD SET HIM OFF.

Schmidinger: WHAT WE DO, WE CAN DO...

[METAL CLINKING]

JUST SOME NOISE,

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE DAY.

IT WILL BE LIKE...

[BANGS METAL]

GOOD BOY!

CLOSE!

[BANGING METAL]

AND IT WILL BE LIKE THIS.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

Narrator: KAAVAN'S AGGRESSION

COULD LAST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

AND DR. AMIR IS IN THE FIRING LINE.

Dr. Amir: ELEPHANT IN MUST CAN KILL ANYONE,

'CAUSE HE LOOK FOR THE ALPHA, AND HE WANT TO

REMOVE THIS ALPHA.

AND FOR HIM, I AM THE FOCUS PERSON,

SO I COULD BE IN A HUGE RISK AT THIS MOMENT,

SO I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Narrator: THE ENTIRE AIRLIFT IS NOW IN JEOPARDY.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

DESPITE THE DANGERS FROM COVID-19,

CHER IS DETERMINED TO MAKE THE TRIP TO PAKISTAN.

IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE SHE HEARD OF KAAVAN'S PLIGHT.

Jen: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Cher: WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO ISLAMABAD.

Jen: YEAH. TO DO WHAT?

Cher: TO GET KAAVAN.

Jen: YES. [CHUCKLING]

Narrator: THE AIRLIFT IS SCHEDULED IN THREE DAYS.

DR. AMIR HAS GIVEN KAAVAN SOME MEDICATION

TO SUPPRESS THE SURGE IN TESTOSTERONE

AND HOPEFULLY CURB HIS AGGRESSION.

MARK COWNE, WHO FOUNDED FREE THE WILD WITH CHER,

HAS ARRIVED THROUGH LONDON TO SEE KAAVAN OFF.

BUT IT'S NOT THE REUNION HE HOPED FOR.

KAAVAN'S TEMPER IS STILL HOT.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Cowne: TOTALLY MY FAULT. I FORGOT KAAVAN WAS IN MUST.

I GOT TOO CLOSE.

Narrator: IT'S A POTENT REMINDER

THAT KAAVAN IS STILL IN MUST AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

[BRIGHT ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

AFTER 24 HOURS OF NONSTOP TRAVEL FROM CALIFORNIA,

CHER FINALLY LANDS IN ISLAMABAD, JUST IN TIME.

KAAVAN HAS A HARD OUT IN TWO DAYS.

["BELIEVE" BY CHER]

[CHATTERING]

♪ NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY

♪ YOU KEEP PUSHING ME ASIDE AND I CAN'T BREAK THROUGH ♪

♪ THERE'S NO TALKING TO YOU ♪

Cher: AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I WAS IN ISLAMABAD

AND EVERYONE WAS SAYING, "WE DIDN'T EXPECT YOU TO COME.

WHY ARE YOU HERE?"

AND I SAID, "BECAUSE I SAID I WAS COMING, AND I'M HERE.

AND I'M, YOU KNOW... I'M HERE TO GET KAAVAN."

♪ DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE ♪

♪ I CAN FEEL SOMETHING

ARE YOU DR. AMIR?

Dr. Amir: GOOD MORNING, CHER. Cher: HOW ARE YOU?

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU! Dr. Amir: I'M FINE.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

[INDISTINCT] AND YOU ARE HERE FINALLY.

Cher: YES, I AM.

Dr. Amir: WELCOME TO PAKISTAN AND WELCOME TO THE ZOO.

Cher: THANK YOU.

♪ I CAN FEEL SOMETHING

YOU HAVE TO WALK UP THE LONG ROAD INTO THE ZOO,

AND I COULD SEE HIM FROM THE DISTANCE.

FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS,

WHAT IS HE DOING IN THIS HELL HOLE

WHICH IS AS BIG AS MY FINGERNAIL?

AND MY GOD, HE'S SO BROWN AND BEAUTIFUL, RUSTY.

AND THEN, HE'S SO BIG.

I DIDN'T REALIZE.

AND HE'S NOT EVEN A BIG ELEPHANT,

BUT ELEPHANTS ARE GIGANTIC.

HE HAS BEAUTIFUL EYES.

AND EVEN WHEN HE'S NOT WITH YOU

OR WHEN THERE'S NO ONE AROUND,

DOES HE STILL DO THIS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS THE WHOLE TIME?

Dr. Amir: 24/7.

Cher: RIGHT.

HELLO, KAAVAN!

Narrator: DR. AMIR KNOWS THERE ARE TWO WAYS

FOR CHER TO BOND WITH KAAVAN:

FOOD...

Dr. Amir: HE LIKE WATERMELON

Cher: I LIKE WATERMELON TOO.

[LAUGHING]

Narrator: AND MUSIC.

♪ A LIFE THAT'S FULL

KAAVAN'S FAVORITE SONG

♪ AND EVERY HIGHWAY

♪ BUT MORE MUCH MORE THAN THIS

♪ I DID IT MY WAY

Cher: HE LOVES THAT SONG.

ANIMALS, YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE MUSIC.

THEY'RE SOOTHED BY IT. THEY REALLY ARE.

♪ I'VE HAD A FEW

♪ BUT THEN TOO FEW TO MENTION

IT WAS LIKE I ALREADY KNEW HIM,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE WOULD HAVE

SUCH A CUTE PERSONALITY.

I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE REALLY ANGRY.

♪ I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO

♪ I SAW IT THROUGH WITHOUT EXEMPTION ♪

[EMOTIONAL PIANO MUSIC]

Narrator: CHER IS TOUCHED

BY HOW DEEPLY KAAVAN HAS BONDED WITH DR. AMIR

Cher: THEY JUST WERE CLOSE.

THEY WERE LIKE BEST BUDDIES,

AND DR. AMIR SAID HE WAS ATTACHED TO HIM.

HE'D NEVER BEEN REALLY ATTACHED TO ANY OTHER ELEPHANT.

Dr. Amir: IT'S A CLEAR RULE. I NEVER ALLOW TO BREAK IT.

I RESCUE ANIMALS FROM WAR ZONES WITH THE TEAMS OF FOUR PAWS.

I LOVE THEM, I CARE FOR THEM, I RESCUE THEM,

BUT I NEVER BUILD A BOND, NOT TO BE TOUCHED.

AND I DONE MY FIRST MISTAKE.

I FELT A LOVE FOR THIS ELEPHANT.

[INTRIGUING MUSIC]

Narrator: WITH ONLY ONE DAY TO GO,

KAAVAN'S STURDIER YET SMALLER TRANSPORT CRATE

FINALLY ARRIVES.

NOT PRETTY, BUT HOPEFULLY THIS TIME, ELEPHANT PROOF.

Cher: WILL HE COME IN HERE AS WELL AS HE GOES IN THERE?

Goeritz: THE PLAN IS HE WILL GO IN THERE AS HE IS TRAINED FOR.

HE WILL BE TRANQUILIZED IN THERE.

AND THEN HE IS WALKING BACKWARDS INTO THIS CRATE HERE.

Cher: AND THEN HOW SEDATED IS HE?

Goeritz: HE'S SO-CALLED STANDING SEDATION.

HE IS AWAKE, AWAKE ENOUGH THAT HE CAN MANAGE THE MOVEMENT,

BUT HE IS DOPEY ENOUGH THAT HE IS NOT STRESSED OUT

AND HE'S NOT FREAKING OUT.

Cher: AND DO YOU CHECK HIM ALL THE TIME?

Goeritz: ALL THE TIME.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

[FIRE CRACKLING]

Narrator: JUST 12 HOURS TO GO.

TIME TO GATHER THE TEAM.

Dr. Amir: SO, AS COUNTDOWN STARTS AGAIN.

CHER, FIRST, WELCOME HERE IN THE TEAM.

THE TEAM WILL START HERE AT SIX O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING,

PREPARING THE ENCLOSURE, PREPARING THE ELEPHANT.

AFTER THIS, DR. FRANK WILL TAKES THE LEAD

AS THE CHIEF VETERINARIAN TO SEDATE THE ELEPHANT.

IT'S A TEAMWORK. IT'S A BIG TEAMWORK.

WE HAVE TO HELP EACH OTHER.

CHER, I WILL SEE YOU IN CAMBODIA.

THANK YOU.

[TEAM APPLAUDING]

Narrator: CHER WE'LL FLY AHEAD

AND WILL BE WAITING FOR KAAVAN WHEN HE LANDS IN CAMBODIA.

[TENSE MUSIC]

BUT NO ONE KNOWS HOW KAAVAN WILL HANDLE THE FLIGHT.

THE ANXIETY IS RUNNING HIGH.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

IT'S D-DAY.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

KAAVAN IS SHIPPING OUT.

[CHATTERING]

Narrator: DR. AMIR AND HIS TEAM ARE UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE

AS THEY COAX KAAVAN INTO HIS TRAVEL CRATE.

THEY'VE TRAINED AND PLANNED, BUT NEVER REHEARSED.

AND TODAY, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING.

[CHATTERING]

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

Dr. Amir: WHERE DO YOU WANT THE MEDIA?

YOU HAVE A BIG THING HERE IN HIS ARM.

Goeritz: MAKE SURE THERE'S SOME SILICONE OIL ON IT

THAT IT'S MOVED EASY.

Narrator: VET FRANK GURITZ IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR KEEPING KAAVAN CALM DURING THE 24-HOUR JOURNEY.

HE MUST BE AWAKE ENOUGH TO STAND

BUT SEDATED ENOUGH TO RELAX.

IT'S A FINE BALANCE.

Goeritz: I FOCUS ON WHAT CAN GO WRONG,

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL NEEDS FOR THE ELEPHANT

FROM THE MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW

AND FROM THE SAFETY POINT OF VIEW.

Narrator: GETTING KAAVAN IN THE TRANSPORT CRATE

IS A TWO-STEP PROCESS.

FIRST, DR. AMIR LURES HIM INTO THE LARGER TRAINING CRATE...

HIS WAY.

♪ AND SO I FACE THAT FINAL CURTAIN ♪

♪ MY FRIEND

Man: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: ONCE INSIDE, THEY CAN SEDATE HIM.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Kip: I CAN CLOSE THE GATE? Schmidinger: YES PLEASE.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

Narrator: HE'S GOT TO BE ABSOLUTELY CALM

BEFORE THE NEXT PHASE.

[TRANQUILIZER GUN POPS] [KAAVAN GROWLING]

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

Goeritz: WAIT.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THE DRUGS TIME TO WORK.

IT TAKES 20 MINUTES SO...

IT'S ALWAYS THE HARDEST PART, WAITING.

Dr. Amir: WE HAVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING QUITE UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE SHOULD NOT LOSE THE FOCUS.

Narrator: THE NOISY CROWD OF MEDIA ISN'T HELPING.

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

[CHATTERING]

Dr. Amir: PLEASE, IF YOU WANT TO STAY NOW YOU HAVE TO BE QUIET,

OTHERWISE I WILL BE OUT AND YOU'LL BE OUT,

SO PLEASE RESPECT THIS.

Narrator: NOW, THE REALLY DIFFICULT PART,

TRANSFERRING KAAVAN INTO THE SMALLER TRAVEL CONTAINER...

BACKWARDS.

[ANXIOUS MUSIC]

ROPES AND A TEAM OF HELPERS

WILL PROVIDE SOME GENTLE PERSUASION.

[CHATTERING]

KAAVAN'S STILL IN MUST, AND THOUGH DROWSY, HE'S AGGRESSIVE.

Kip: PULL MORE, MORE, MORE!

OKAY!

Narrator: BUT HE DOESN'T RESIST.

Cher: HE WENT IN BEAUTIFULLY.

Dr. Amir: I THINK HE UNDERSTOOD WE ARE WORKING FOR HIM.

WE COME TO BE CALM.

A NICE CHILD.

[GENTLE MUSIC]

Narrator: 35 YEARS AFTER BEING CONFINED TO ISLAMABAD ZOO,

KAAVAN IS AT LAST ON HIS JOURNEY TO A BETTER LIFE.

Cher: I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GONNA GET HIM

TO GO INSIDE THE CRATE.

BUT HE DID UNBELIEVABLY WELL,

AND HE WAS JUST GREAT ABOUT THAT.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[METAL CLANKING]

Narrator: THE GIANT ILYUSHIN TRANSPORT PLANE

CAN SWALLOW A SCHOOL BUS.

IT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DELIVER HEAVY LOADS

TO REMOTE AREAS.

BUT AN AWAKE BULL ELEPHANT IN MUST IS NO ORDINARY CARGO.

IF HE SHIFTS HIS WEIGHT INSIDE THE CONTAINER,

IT COULD THROW THE WHOLE PLANE OFF BALANCE.

[MAN SHOUTING]

ALREADY, HE'S SWINGING THE FIVE-TON CRATE

FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

THE PILOTS ARE SERIOUSLY WORRIED IT WILL DAMAGE THE PLANE.

[TENSE MUSIC]

HE HAS TO HOLD STILL.

[CHATTERING]

DR. AMIR HOPES HIS FAVORITE SUGAR CANE SNACKS

WILL CALM HIM DOWN.

Dr. Amir: I DON'T SLEEP ON THIS FLIGHT.

I WAS REALLY THINKING IF EVERYTHING GO WRONG,

IT WILL BE A BIG, BIG PROBLEM.

Narrator: KAAVAN CAN'T SLEEP MUCH EITHER.

HE MUST REMAIN STANDING FOR THE WHOLE SEVEN-HOUR FLIGHT.

BUT IF THE DRUGS THAT ARE KEEPING HIM CALM WEAR OFF,

THEY CAN ALL BE IN TROUBLE.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Dr. Amir: HE'S REALLY BIG ELEPHANT. HE'S REALLY STRONG.

SO IF I'M AN ELEPHANT, I'M IN THIS BOX, WHAT CAN I DO?

WHAT CAN I BREAK? WHAT CAN I OPEN?

WHAT CAN I BEND? I... EVERYTHING.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[SOFT MUSIC]

Narrator: THE RESPONSIBILITY WEIGHS HEAVILY

ON DR. AMIR'S MIND.

[KAAVAN GROWLING]

Dr. Amir: TO BRING THE ELEPHANT OF AIRPLANE,

IT'S A HUGE CHALLENGE.

JUST TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A LIFE,

FOR A CREATURE LIKE KAAVAN

WITH ALL THIS LOVE ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THIS ELEPHANT.

I FEEL THAT WEIGHT ON MY SHOULDER.

IF THE ELEPHANT WILL SURVIVES THIS THING.

I FEEL HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR ME, FOR MY TEAM,

FOR THE CRITICS, FOR OUR PARTNER, FOR CHER.

Cher: AND THEN I THOUGHT, WELL...

WHAT HAPPENS IF HE GETS UPSET OR ANGRY

AND HE STARTS TO ROCK THE PLANE?

[TENSE MUSIC]

["BELIEVE" BY CHER]

IT WAS REAL. IT WAS ALMOST REAL.

WE HAD A BIT TO GO STILL, BUT IT WAS REAL.

WE WERE THERE. WE WERE IN CAMBODIA.

AND THE PEOPLE WERE SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM.

♪ DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE ♪

Narrator: SEVEN HOURS AND TWO AND A HALF THOUSAND MILES

SINCE LEAVING PAKISTAN,

THE GIANT PLANE WITH ITS PRECIOUS CARGO

REACHES SIEN REAP AIRPORT IN CAMBODIA.

THE AIRPORT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR SIX MONTHS BECAUSE OF COVID.

BUT SAKHAN, AN INFLUENTIAL BUSINESSMAN

AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

PERSUADES THE GOVERNMENT TO LET KAAVAN LAND.

Cher: WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE

IN CAMBODIA WITHOUT MR. HAN.

HE WAS LIKE THE MAN. MR. HAN'S THE MAN.

[CHANTING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

I HEARD THAT HE HAD BEHAVED VERY WELL.

Narrator: ALSO THERE TO MEET KAAVAN IS DEREK THOMPSON,

WHO WILL LOOK AFTER HIM AT THE SANCTUARY.

Thompson: SO IT'S BEEN QUITE AN ORDEAL

GETTING READY FOR KAAVAN.

WE HAD A LIMITED TIME TO GET THINGS PREPARED FOR HIM,

FOR HIS ARRIVAL.

Narrator: DEREK'S CREW LOADS KAAVAN ONTO A FLATBED

FOR THE LAST LEG. A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE.

[INTRIGUING MUSIC]

DEREK RIDES OUTSIDE THE WHOLE WAY,

CONSTANTLY CHECKING ON KAAVAN...

WITH CHER IN CONVOY BEHIND.

Cher: I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA FALL OFF

BECAUSE HE WAS JUST HOLDING ON TO THE BARS,

AND HE JUST KEPT GOING AROUND KAAVAN AND TALKING TO HIM.

HE WAS TRYING TO CALM HIM,

BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME

THAT HE'D BEEN TRAPPED IN THAT CAGE,

BECAUSE HE FILLED UP EVERY SPACE OF IT, YOU KNOW?

SO DEREK WAS AMAZING.

Narrator: IT'S NIGHTTIME WHEN KAAVAN

FINALLY ARRIVES AT HIS NEW HOME.

CHER WANTS TO SEE HIM SAFELY OFF THE TRUCK.

ANKLE STRAPS HAVE KEPT KAAVAN GENTLY RESTRAINED

THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY.

BUT AFTER 24 HOURS, HE CAN'T WAIT TO GET THEM OFF.

[METAL CLUNKING]

FINALLY, KAAVAN REVERSES CAREFULLY INTO HIS NEW LIFE.

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

Thompson: HE'S COMING OUT THE BACK DOOR INTO HIS SHELTER.

HE ARRIVED IN THE DARK

AND THAT MADE THINGS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED,

GETTING HIM OUT AND UNLOADED.

HE WAS EXHAUSTED.

HE WAS STILL KIND OF PUNCHDRUNK FROM THE FLIGHT.

[GENTLE MUSIC]

Cher: I COULD JUST SEE HIS SHADOW MOVING AROUND,

AND HE WAS SO CALM AND NOT DOING ANYTHING.

HE JUST WAS INTERESTED, AND HE WAS CHECKING OUT EVERYTHING.

I SAW A DIFFERENT ELEPHANT.

[INTRIGUING MUSIC] [BIRDS WHISTLING]

Narrator: IT'S A NEW DAWN FOR KAAVAN IN HIS NEW HOME,

AND CHER CAN'T WAIT TO CHECK ON HIM.

Thompson: HE'S SETTLED IN REMARKABLY WELL.

Cher: HE'S VERY INQUISITIVE.

Thompson: HE IS.

HE GOES FROM ONE LITTLE THING,

BECAUSE HE'S NEVER HAD ANY OF THESE TYPES OF ENRICHMENTS

THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM, THAT HELP HIM TO-

Cher: NO, HE NEVER HAD ANYTHING. Thompson: NO.

[EXCITING MUSIC]

Narrator: THE CAMBODIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

IS 30,000 ACRES OF PRISTINE TROPICAL FOREST,

WHICH, LIKE THESE OTHER RESCUED ELEPHANTS,

KAAVAN WILL EVENTUALLY GET TO EXPLORE.

FIRST, HE'LL SETTLE INTO A SMALL TEMPORARY ENCLOSURE

BY HIMSELF.

BUT HE'S NOT COMPLETELY ALONE.

THERE ARE THREE FEMALES NEXT DOOR,

AND THEY'RE EAGER TO MEET HIM.

Thompson: THAT'S SARAH MIA.

SHE'S THE YOUNG ONE, WHO LIKELY WILL BE

MOST INTERESTED IN THE BOY.

Cher: MRS. KAAVAN.

Thompson: YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, INDEED.

THEY'RE DOING SOME TALKING.

ELEPHANTS OF COURSE ARE ALWAYS TALKING.

Cher: BUT I DIDN'T HEAR IT. WHERE'S THE TALKING PART?

I COULDN'T HEAR THE TALKING PART.

Thompson: WELL, THE MAJORITY OF ELEPHANT TALK IS SUB-PERCEPTION.

Cher: OKAY, OKAY.

Thompson: YOU TOUCH YOUR HAND ON THEIR FOREHEAD,

IT'S ALWAYS VIBRATING, VIBRATING.

THEY'RE ALWAYS TALKING.

VERY HIGHLY SOCIAL BEING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THE TRAGEDIES FOR AN ELEPHANT

TO BE KEPT SOLITARY AWAY FROM ITS OWN KIND,

AWAY FROM ITS OWN NATURAL BEHAVIOR.

Cher: RIGHT.

Thompson: AND YOU BROUGHT HIM AWAY FROM ALL OF THAT.

Cher: THANK YOU.

Thompson: AND INTO A NEW WORLD.

AND THIS IS JUST THE START.

[BRIGHT ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

Narrator: WHILE THE LADIES WAIT,

KAAVAN FRESHENS UP WITH A SPA...

ELEPHANT STYLE.

Thompson: KAAVAN, WANTS TO PLAY IN A MUD.

Cher: YES. IS THAT SOMETHING...

I HEARD IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO THAT'S SPECIFIC.

Thompson: SKIN. IT'S LIKE GOING INTO A MUD SPA.

Cher: AHA.

Thompson: GOOD PROTECTION FROM THE SUN, NO SUNBURN, BUGS.

IN THE COLD WEATHER AT NIGHT,

IT KEEPS THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE WARMER.

[BRIGHT MUSIC]

THEY HAVEN'T REALLY HAD TOO MUCH OPPORTUNITY

TO ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER

OTHER THAN THROUGH THESE BARRIERS.

BUT THAT'S FOR SAFETY.

THEY'RE NOT TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM YET,

BUT IT WILL HAPPEN.

THIS MORNING, I PUT SOME OF HIS POO INTO THEIR SHELTER,

AND THEY TALKED AND TALKED AND TALKED ABOUT IT,

AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED AND GIGGLING.

IT'S A WAY TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT AN ELEPHANT.

THEY DRAW A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM THEIR SCENT.

SO THEY TALKED FOR A GOOD HALF HOUR ABOUT HIS POOP.

[LAUGHING]

Cher: THAT'S AMAZING!

Thompson: GET THE TRUNK TOUCHING.

Cher: SO HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

HE'S WANTING TO BE-

Thompson: HE'S PLAYING COY!

Cher: RIGHT.

Thompson: IT'S GONNA WORK.

IT'S GONNA WORK JUST FINE.

Cher: YOU HAVE TO SEND ME PICTURES.

Thompson: ABSOLUTELY.

[GENTLE PIANO MUSIC]

Narrator: AS KAAVAN REDISCOVERS THE JOY

OF ELEPHANT COMPANIONS, IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE

TO THE MAN WHOSE HEART HE TOUCHED MORE THAN ANY OTHER

DURING THE RESCUE.

THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER EVERY DAY FOR THREE MONTHS.

Dr. Amir: HE'S NOT IN MUST ANYMORE.

Thompson: NO. HIS BEHAVIOR CHANGES.

HE'S BEAUTIFUL.

Dr. Amir: I REALIZE I'M LEAVING TODAY, SO...

YEAH, I LOSE MY HAPPINESS.

HE GIVE ME HAPPINESS.

IT MEAN TOO MUCH TO ME.

I'M SAD TO LEAVE HIM.

YEAH.

[EMOTIONAL MUSIC]

THANK YOU.

Narrator: DR. AMIR LEAVES WITH A HEAVY HEART

BUT IMMENSELY PROUD OF WHAT THEY ALL HAVE ACHIEVED.

ATTITUDES TOWARDS ANIMAL WELFARE ARE CHANGING,

AND CONDITIONS FOR ELEPHANTS IN CAPTIVITY HAVE IMPROVED.

BUT NOT FAR FROM KAAVAN'S NEW SANCTUARY

LIES A STARK REMINDER THAT ASIAN ELEPHANTS

WERE LONG CONSIDERED BEASTS OF BURDEN.

IT'S AN ANCIENT MONUMENT THAT WAS BUILT

ON THE BACKS OF HUNDREDS OF ELEPHANTS.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

ANGKOR WAT.

Cher: HUNDREDS OF ELEPHANTS BUILT IT,

AND I BET HALF OF THEM DIED DOING IT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN...

A REALITY THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD.

AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, NOW I WANT TO GO.

♪ THIS IS A SONG FOR THE LONELY ♪

Narrator: IN 2019, CAMBODIA BANNED

TOURIST ELEPHANT RIDES HERE,

JOINING A MOVEMENT WITH OVER 100 OTHER TOURIST ORGANIZATIONS

ACROSS THE WORLD.

♪ I'LL BE BY YOUR SIDE

THE MODERN WORLD HAS BROUGHT A POWERFUL TOOL

TO THE CAMPAIGN FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS: SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE SAMAR KHAN

FIRST LAUNCHED HER FREE KAAVAN PETITION ONLINE.

Khan: I HOPE THAT KAAVAN'S STORY INSPIRES PEOPLE

TO ACT OUT ON BEHALF OF ANIMAL WELFARE,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE KAAVAN'S JOURNEY

REALLY SHOWS THE POWER OF PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT CHER

REALLY ADOPTED KAAVAN AS HER OWN.

♪ THIS IS A SONG FOR THE LONELY ♪

♪ CAN YOU HEAR ME TONIGHT

Cher: YOU KNOW WHAT'S SO STRANGE?

FIRST OF ALL, I NEVER THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT,

THAT WE WOULD BE HERE, THAT I WOULD STAND NEXT TO HIM,

AND THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

♪ FOR THE LONELY

♪ WHEN YOUR DREAMS WON'T COME TRUE ♪

Narrator: CHER'S NOT DONE.

THREE MONTHS LATER, BACK HOME IN CALIFORNIA,

SHE CHECKS IN ON KAAVAN'S PROGRESS.

[CHUCKLING]

Thompson: HELLO!

BEAUTIFUL AS EVER. LOOK AT YOU!

Cher: HOW'S OUR BOY? HOW'S OUR BOY?

Thompson: WELL, WE'RE GONNA GET RIGHT TO HIM,

'CAUSE HE'S THE MAIN EVENT.

YEAH, HE'S RIGHT BEHIND ME HERE.

Cher: OH!

LOOK AT HIM!

Thompson: HERE, WAIT A MINUTE.

SEE IF HE SAYS HI.

HE SAYS HI.

YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

Cher: LOOK AT HIM!

Thompson: YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!

Cher: HE'S A BEAUTIFUL GUY.

Thompson: HE'S QUITE A CALM BOY.

I'VE GOT TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT,

AND HE'S NOT LIKE OTHER BULLS THAT I'VE KNOWN,

AND HE'S VERY CALM.

Cher: HE SEEMS REALLY HAPPY.

Thompson: HE'S GOOD.

I'M HAPPY WITH HIS STATE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS ONLY THREE QUARTERS OF AN ACRE, THIS YARD,

AND HE'S MOVING INTO ONE THAT'S GONNA HAVE 30 ACRES,

SO HE'LL HAVE MANY THINGS TO ENGAGE HIM IN THE FOREST.

LOTS OF THINGS TO EAT, BROWSE, RUN AROUND,

MEET THE LADIES IF HE'S INTERESTED. [LAUGHS]

FOR THE MOST PART, HE'S REALLY INTO EATING.

[LAUGHING]

Cher: HE'S ALWAYS EATING!

IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP.

THE WHOLE THING WAS WONDERFUL.

[CHEERFUL MUSIC]

♪ AND THIS IS A SONG FOR THE LONELY ♪

THIS IS LIKE A FAIRY TALE ENDING, YOU KNOW?

WHERE THEY KISS AT THE END.

♪ 'CAUSE SOMEONE'S THERE FOR YOU ♪

AND I NOW KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

SO I'M GONNA CONTINUE.

[ELEPHANTS VOCALIZING]