Circus elephant retires to sanctuary after performing for 40 years

By Ottilie Von Henning

The last circus elephant in Portugal was released into the country's first dedicated sanctuary after 40 years of performing.

Julie, an African elephant, was transported from her old home at the circus to Pangea Elephant Sanctuary in Alentejo, Portugal, on June 30.

Julie was captured as a calf in Africa at some point in the late-1980s, and brought to Portugal where she began performing in circuses almost immediately in 1988.

In 2018, the Portuguese government passed a law stating that circuses would no longer be able to use wild animals by 2024.

Once she didn't have to perform anymore, she was left with nowhere to go, until Pangea Elephant Sanctuary reached out to her former owner.

Although the sanctuary, the first of its kind in Europe, was still being built, they began coordinating Julie's move as the first elephant to live on site.

Fast forward 18 months, and Julie was on a two-and-a-half-hour truck ride from her previous circus grounds to the sanctuary, where she made herself at home right away.

More from this section

As AI reshapes newsrooms, leading media outlets are charting different paths for its use

Why Gen Z Has It Harder — And What to Do About It

Dad who shielded passengers in train attack pleads for help

Managing director of the sanctuary, Kate Moore, said: "Julie is the first elephant to call Pangea home, and there couldn't be a more fitting first resident than Portugal's last circus elephant.

"Many circuses and zoos across Europe are reaching the point where keeping elephants is no longer possible or appropriate, and they need somewhere to turn.

"Working in partnership with owners to find the right solution is central to how we operate, as it has been with the Víctor Hugo Cardinali circus, and we are very grateful for their continued involvement.

"Our focus is now to give Julie the best possible quality of life in her time ahead."

The sanctuary spans 1,000 acres and hopes to house 20 to 35 elephants, but has limited occupancy at this stage while they add more barns and construct fences.

The organization aims to provide a safe space for these wild animals to live out the rest of their days, without the stress of a long-haul journey to Africa.

Pangea, an independent charity registered in both the UK and Portugal, were also offered sponsorship for Julie from a Suffolk primary school.

The pupils from Wenhaston Primary School near Halesworth, Suffolk, adopted Julie before her move, providing an £100 ($135) donation.

Julie is also expected to be joined later this year by Kariba, another female African elephant, also wild-caught and in her forties, like Julie, and currently living alone at a zoo in Belgium.