About us
Why we exist
Elephants are among the most intelligent, sentient and sociable animals on Earth. They lead incredibly rich lives in the wild, and scientists and elephant-keeping institutions agree that they suffer if their needs are not met.
Most countries in Europe have banned wild animals in entertainment, leaving circuses with elephants that need rehoming, and zoos with ageing or solitary elephants in particular struggle to find a suitable solution. That’s why we have established Europe’s first large-scale elephant sanctuary.
500+ elephants are held in Europe’s zoos and circuses
193
taken from the wild
40+
performing in circus-like settings
36
living in solitary confinement
66
living in pairs. Half over 40 and at risk of solitude
Our sanctuary
We chose our site after a Europe-wide feasibility study and a search that covered hundreds of properties. The 1,000-acre reserve in Portugal’s Alentejo region is a diverse, peaceful habitat with plenty of water in a warm climate, where elephants have the space to roam and forage as they please.
Did you know?
Iberia was one of the last refuges in Europe for the straight-tusked elephant, and their footprints have been found on the Alentejo coast.
Pangea
Our work
Elephant care
We give every elephant expert, lifelong care and the space, choice and companionship they need to lead a meaningful life.
Nature recovery
We are helping the land to recover so that native plants and animals can thrive alongside the elephants.
Research
We study elephant behaviour and welfare, and how elephants and the Mediterranean landscape shape each other, and we share that knowledge where it can be of help to others.
Education
We help people of all ages discover the magic of elephants, and inspire them to care about elephants here and in the wild.
Partnerships
We work with like-minded partners who want a better future for elephants in captivity, including zoos, circuses and governments seeking help with the elephants in their care.
Progress to date
2017 – 2022
Feasibility
Pangea began by asking where in Europe an elephant in need could go. We worked with leading elephant biologists and captive care experts, and drew on decades of learning from sanctuaries in the Americas. Our feasibility study pointed to Portugal, and The Pangea Trust was registered as a UK charity.
2022 – 2025
Development
With our Managing Director in place, we consulted extensively with the Portuguese authorities to confirm where and how we could work. We assessed hundreds of properties, found the right land and raised the funds to buy it. Our Founding Members joined us, bringing long-term strategic and financial support, and we registered in Portugal with a partner charity in the US.
2026
Operations
The year the sanctuary came to life. We completed our first barn and ten acres of habitat, appointed our Sanctuary Manager and secured our operating licence. Then came the moment we had worked towards for nine years: the arrival of Julie and Kariba.
2027 – 2030
Next steps
Next comes room to roam. Two new habitats of woodland, scrub, grassland and water will take the elephants’ space to as much as 70 acres, more than 100 times the size of a typical zoo enclosure. We plan to welcome another two or three African female elephants, and to begin a habitat and barn designed for Asian elephants.
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Our structure
Pangea is an independent organisation, registered in the UK as a charity and in Portugal as a non-profit association, and affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organisation in the US.
Company no. 10893190