Europe's first large-scale elephant sanctuary, designed to provide a more natural environment for some of the 600 elephants still held in captivity across the continent, is set to receive its first arrivals. Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, will be relocated next month to the animal charity Pangea's multimillion-pound sanctuary in the Alentejo region, 200 kilometres east of Lisbon, near the Spanish border. She will be joined by Kariba, a female African elephant in her 40s, who is being moved from a Belgian zoo where she has been living alone.
A New Home for Captive Elephants
According to Kate Moore, managing director of Pangea, Kariba and Julie will inhabit an expansive natural habitat where they can roam freely, bathe, and socialise in compatible groups. Moore emphasised that autonomy is critical for these highly sentient and intelligent animals, which have complex needs. The sanctuary will initially occupy 28 hectares, with further fundraising required to expand the enclosures across the entire 405-hectare former cattle ranch. The facility prioritises providing elephants with as natural a life as possible and will not be open to the public.
The Plight of Captive Elephants
Across Europe, 36 elephants live in solitary confinement in zoos, and about 40 are still forced to perform tricks in circuses. Many, 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 are often restricted to smaller-than-natural herds, with drastically reduced roaming distances—wild elephants walk tens of kilometres daily—and are susceptible to diseases and lameness. Studies have shown reduced life expectancy and increased infant mortality among captive elephants. One study found that African females in zoos lived an average of 17 years, compared to 56 years in the wild when human-caused deaths were excluded. Another study reported a first-year mortality rate of about 30% for captive-born Asian elephants in North America and the EU, versus 10-15% for wild African elephants.
Legal Changes and Sanctuary Solutions
Although the use of wild animals in circuses is now banned in most EU countries—with Germany being a notable exception, where regional restrictions exist but no national ban—many circuses struggle to give up large animals like elephants due to a lack of sanctuary spaces. Governments also cannot confiscate animals from circuses if no suitable facilities are available. In Portugal, a ban on wild animals in circuses came into full effect in 2025, with Julie being 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, described the decision as difficult but right for Julie, noting that working closely with Pangea on her transition was critical. Moore added that across Europe, circuses and zoos are reaching a point where keeping elephants is no longer feasible due to changing legislation, loss of companions, or a decision to move on. Pangea aims to offer spaces to elephants in circuses or solitary confinement in zoos, working in partnership with owners to find the right solutions.
Rewilding and Ecosystem Restoration
The sanctuary, which took a decade to develop, is situated on a degraded cattle ranch where the elephants will also contribute to nature restoration. The region once housed straight-tusked elephants that roamed the Iberian peninsula 40,000 years ago. Moore highlighted the importance of a diverse environment for the elephants, noting that efforts have been made to help nature recover through basic rewilding principles. Elephants can strengthen ecosystems if stocking density is managed correctly, offering a unique opportunity to observe how the elephants interact with the land. When fully expanded to 405 hectares, the sanctuary could accommodate 20 to 30 elephants living naturally, roaming, grazing, and wallowing in the lakes.
