The world's loneliest elephant was forced to live in solitude for eight years ... trends now

Pointed bull hooks lunged into Kaavan's side. Crowds had lined the fence of his enclosure to see Pakistan's only Asian elephant and the sharp jab had meant that he was being told to perform for them.

A hand clasping money was raised in the air and the spectator was willing to exchange it with the handlers in return for Kaavan reaching out his trunk and take it from their palm.

The bull hook jolted into his side once more and the dejected creature lifted his trunk and passed over the cash that was set to line his handler's pockets.

For 35 years, 'the world's loneliest elephant' had been made to perform for spectators from his miserable, baron half-acre of land at Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad. Wounds on his legs had become infected, he had been placed in chains, and a poor diet left him dangerously obese.

Kaavan's only companion died at the zoo in 2012 and the lonely elephant was living out a sorrowful existence.

But after years of campaigning by animal activists, the world's loneliest elephant was rescued from his tragic life with the help of a legendary music icon. And much like her 1998 hit, pop star Cher helped the elephant believe in life after love.

To turn back time, Kaavan was born in Sri Lanka in 1985 and started life at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage 60 miles (96km) northeast of the capital Colombo. It's thought that the baby elephant was a gift to General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's government for supporting the Sri Lankan army during an insurgency.

The calf was placed in the relatively new Marguzar Zoo. But having opened seven years earlier, corruption had taken hold of the animal park and authorities were not taking interest in the treatment of its residents.

Standards were poor, enclosures were cramped, and food lacked any nutrition.

Instead of caring for its creatures, the zoo was renting out its animals to parties held by influential locals.

Kaavan's enclosure was incredibly compact at around half the size of a football pitch. It was also barren. There were no trees, plants, logs, or anything to provide the little elephant with entertainment. 

For decades, Kaavan would be made to entertain crowds that gathered around the fence to his enclosure. His mahout would prod him with the pointed bull hook and Kaavan would have to raise his trunk in the air and take money from the crowd to pass back to the handler.

In the 1990s, a female elephant called Saheli came to join Kaavan from Bangladesh. She told Kaavan, 'I got you babe', and the two became companions amid the dire conditions.

Tragically, Saheli died in 2012. Her death was allegedly from sepsis, but the zoo claimed it was a heart attack inflicted on her by the heat.

Just like humans, elephants are known to mourn death and will experience a similar period of grief to humans. Kaavan became lonely without his companion.

The elephant found it difficult to be strong enough and he slipped into a state of psychosis. He had become increasingly angry and his handlers decided to place him in chains. They were also claiming he was dangerous and Kaavan lost all interaction. The loneliest elephant in the world was deserted and had no animal or human for company.

Kaavan cased to be active. He stopped exploring the enclosure, he was not interested in humans, and he was very overweight.