"Kariba and Julie will live in an expansive natural habitat where they can roam freely, bathe and socialise in compatible groups, said Kate Moore, the managing director of Pangea. 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."
"Captive elephants are restricted to smaller-than-natural herds, drastically reduced roaming they walk tens of kilometres each day in the wild and are susceptible to diseases and lameness. Anne, Britain's last circus elephant, was rehomed at Longleat safari park in 2011. She is now in her 70s and living alone."
"There are 36 elephants living in solitary confinement in zoos across Europe and about 40 still required to perform tricks in circuses. Many, including Kariba and Julie, were caught in the wild and brought to Europe in the 1980s and are reaching the end of their lives."
Pangea, Europe's first large-scale elephant sanctuary, is opening in Portugal's Alentejo region to house captive elephants in a more natural environment. Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, and Kariba, a solitary African elephant from a Belgian zoo, will be the first arrivals. The sanctuary initially occupies 28 hectares of a 405-hectare former cattle ranch, with plans for expansion. Approximately 600 elephants remain in captivity across Europe, including 36 in solitary confinement in zoos and 40 performing in circuses. Many were captured in the wild during the 1980s and are aging. The sanctuary prioritizes natural living conditions, allowing elephants to roam freely, bathe, and socialize in compatible groups with expert veterinary care, remaining closed to the public.
#elephant-sanctuary #animal-welfare #captive-animal-relocation #wildlife-conservation #circus-animals
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]