Europe's first large-scale elephant sanctuary is set to open in Portugal, providing a more natural environment for some of the 600 elephants still held in captivity across the continent. The sanctuary, operated by the animal charity Pangea, will initially receive two elephants: Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, and Kariba, a female African elephant in her 40s who has been living alone in a Belgian zoo.
A New Home for Julie and Kariba
Julie will be moved next month to the sanctuary located in the Alentejo region, approximately 200 kilometers east of Lisbon, near the Spanish border. She will be joined by Kariba, who is being relocated from a Belgian zoo. The sanctuary spans 28 hectares initially, with plans to expand across the entire 405-hectare former cattle ranch as further fundraising allows.
Kate Moore, managing director of Pangea, emphasized the importance of providing these elephants with autonomy and expert care. "Kariba and Julie will live in an expansive natural habitat where they can roam freely, bathe and socialise in compatible groups. That autonomy is really critical but they will also have expert care as well. Elephants are one of the most sentient and intelligent animals on earth and so they have very complex needs," she said.
The Plight of Captive Elephants in Europe
Across Europe, 36 elephants live in solitary confinement in zoos, and about 40 are still forced to perform tricks in circuses. Many of these elephants, including Kariba and Julie, were captured in the wild and brought to Europe in the 1980s, now approaching the end of their lives. Captive elephants suffer from restricted social structures, drastically reduced roaming distances, and increased susceptibility to diseases and lameness.
Studies have shown reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality rates among captive elephants. One study found that African female elephants in zoos live an average of 17 years, compared to 56 years in the wild when human-caused deaths are excluded. Another study reported a first-year mortality rate of about 30% for captive-born Asian elephants in North America and the EU, while wild African elephant first-year mortality is only 10-15%.
Ban on Circus Animals and Sanctuary Challenges
Although the use of wild animals in circuses is now banned in most EU countries, Germany still lacks a national ban, only having regional restrictions. Many circuses struggle to give up large animals like elephants due to the lack of sanctuary spaces. Similarly, governments cannot confiscate animals from circuses if no suitable facilities exist.
In Portugal, a ban on wild animals in circuses came into full effect in 2025. Julie was the last wild animal to be rehomed after a voluntary agreement between the Cardinali circus and Pangea. Vítor Hugo Cardinali, director of the circus that cared for Julie since acquiring her from a German zoo in 1988, said: "This has not been an easy decision, as she has been a deeply loved member of our family for decades, but we believe it is the right decision for Julie. Working closely with Pangea on her transition to her new home was a critical factor in our deliberations."
Rewilding and Ecosystem Restoration
The sanctuary has taken 10 years to develop and is located on a degraded cattle ranch. The elephants will play a role in nature restoration, as the region was once home to straight-tusked elephants that roamed the Iberian peninsula 40,000 years ago. Moore explained: "It's really important that it's a diverse environment for them. We've put a lot of effort into helping the nature recover on what was a degraded cattle ranch, following basic rewilding principles. We know elephants can normally strengthen the ecosystems if we get the stocking density of the elephants right."
When fully expanded to 405 hectares, the sanctuary could accommodate 20 to 30 elephants living naturally, roaming, grazing, and wallowing in lakes. The sanctuary will not be open to the public, prioritizing the well-being of the elephants.
