In Portugal, an unusual chapter in circus history has come to an end: Julie, the country’s last circus elephant, has moved to Pangea Elephant Sanctuary in the Alentejo region after 38 years of performances.
In 2018, Portugal passed a law banning wild-animal performances by 2024, but animals leaving circus life still needed suitable places to live.
Pangea Elephant Sanctuary is the first sanctuary in Europe created specifically for elephants that were previously used for work. Julie has become its first resident, and in the future the organization hopes to receive 20 to 35 elephants. Later this year, Kariba may join her — an African elephant of about 40 years old who currently lives alone in a Belgian zoo. In this way, Pangea is gradually creating a space where former working elephants can live without performances, with more freedom and social contact.
