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Solutions & Good News Active Updated Jul 27, 2026

Europe's first sanctuary for working elephants opens in Portugal

Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, moved into Pangea Elephant Sanctuary, a new 1,000-acre reserve in Alentejo built after Portugal banned wild animal circus performances. The stakes are whether the sanctuary can build out barns and fencing fast enough to take in more elephants, including a second elephant, Kariba, expected to join later this year.

The story so far

  1. Jul 27, 2026 Latest

    Julie, captured as a calf in Africa in the late 1980s and performing in Portuguese circuses since 1988, moved on June 30 into Pangea Elephant Sanctuary's 1,000-acre home in Alentejo, becoming its first resident. Managing director Kate Moore said the sanctuary hopes to eventually house 20 to 35 elephants, with a second elephant, Kariba, currently alone at a Belgian zoo, expected to join later this year.

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