The moment the 'world's loneliest elephant' makes his first friend in years

Kaavan will now spend the next few days getting to know the other elephants.

An elephant who was rescued from Pakistan is settling into his new home in Cambodia – touching trunks with his new friends.

Footage shows the 36-year-old male jumbo named Kaavan at the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary in Siem Reap province.

At sunrise, he enjoyed a refreshing mud bath then met one of his new neighbours, Di Poh, and they greeted each other by touching the tips of their trunks.

“All three of our ladies seem a bit intimidated by him, he is a big boy,'” said staff member Pedro.

Kaavan, an Asian elephant, extends its trunk to reach out to another elephant at the Kulen Prom Tep Wildlife Sanctuary

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Kaavan will now spend the next few days getting to know the other elephants, who have not met any new jumbos for more than six years.

Pedro added: “We will give them time to get to know each other, and the girls will let us know if or when they want further interaction.”

American icon Cher has been closely involved in Kaavan’s rescue.

Kaavan, the only Asian elephant in Pakistan, was dubbed the “world's loneliest” while he was at the shabby zoo in Islamabad.

The plight of Kaavan, who was originally from Sri Lanka, sparked global uproar from animal rights groups, who launched a campaign to save him.

Kaavaan, left, will soon join other elephants in a waiting sanctuary.

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He finally saved following a social media campaign encouraged by the singer Cher, who travelled to meet him at the dilapidated zoo.

- ViralPress via AP