EUROPE’S FIRST LARGE-SCALE SANCTUARY OFFICIALLY OPENS WITH THE ARRIVAL OF PORTUGAL’S LAST CIRCUS ELEPHANT
2nd July 2026
Pangea Elephant Sanctuary’s first resident marks the end of wild animals in Portuguese circuses
and a jumbo step forward in elephant welfare across Europe
LISBON, Portugal — Julie, Portugal’s last circus elephant and the last wild animal remaining in a Portuguese circus, has arrived at Pangea Elephant Sanctuary, the first of its kind in Europe. She is the sanctuary’s first resident.
Her arrival, in a voluntary agreement with the Víctor Hugo Cardinali circus, completes the implementation of Portugal’s ban on wild animals in circuses. The law was passed in 2018 and took full effect in 2024, but Julie could not leave the circus until there was somewhere for her to go.
Julie arrived in Portugal from southern Africa as a young calf and joined the Cardinali circus in 1988. After over 40 years performing, she was retired when the ban came into effect in 2024, and her last remaining companion died the same year. As the Cardinali family considered her future, Pangea was in a position to offer her a permanent home.
Located in the Alentejo, Pangea is a 1,000-acre sanctuary for elephants, created to give these highly intelligent, social animals the space, autonomy and companionship they need to live a fulfilling life.
Julie will have the freedom to explore her new surroundings at her own pace, across acres of natural habitat, while receiving the expert care she needs in her remaining years.
With her background, she will need support for health and mobility problems common in elephants of her age and history. Her care will be overseen by Pangea’s specialist team with Mr Cardinali remaining closely involved as she acclimatises to her new way of life.
Before long, she will also have company. Julie is expected to be joined later this year by Kariba, another female African elephant, also wild-caught and in her 40s like Julie, and currently living alone at a zoo in Belgium. Pangea is also in discussions with other elephant-owning institutions about other compatible elephants that could join them.
Kate Moore, Pangea’s Managing Director: “Julie is the first elephant to call Pangea home, and there could be no more fitting first resident than Portugal’s last circus elephant. Many circuses and zoos across Europe are reaching the point where keeping elephants is no longer possible or appropriate, and they need somewhere to turn. Working in partnership with owners to find the right solution is central to how we operate, as it has been with the Víctor Hugo Cardinali circus, and we are very grateful for their continued involvement. Our focus is now to give Julie the best possible quality of life in her time ahead.“
Víctor Hugo Cardinali, Circus Director: “Julie has been part of our family for nearly forty years, so this was not an easy decision, but it is the right one for her. Being able to work alongside Pangea on every step of her move, and to stay involved as she settles in, gave us the confidence to take it. We wish her a happy life in her new home and we will continue to be involved in her life.“
Lisa Bandari, British Embassador to Portugal, said: “I welcome Portugal ending the use of wild animals in its circuses and am very pleased to see a British-led initiative, the Pangea Elephant Sanctuary, becoming the first sanctuary of its kind in Europe here in Portugal. It will provide a home for Julie and in future a refuge for other elephants across Europe.”
For now, the sanctuary remains closed to visitors, giving Julie and future residents the space and quiet they need to settle. Supporters can follow Julie’s progress on Pangea’s social media channels, where regular updates will be shared as she settles into her new life.
— ENDS —
Julie, a 40-year-old female African elephant, has been with the Circo Víctor Hugo Cardinali since 1988 and was also the last remaining wild animal in any Portuguese circus.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Media provisions: For welfare reasons, the sanctuary is closed to visitors and no media access is available on site. High-quality images and broadcast-ready footage of Julie are available for editorial use.
References: Please refer to us as Pangea Elephant Sanctuary on first mention.
About Pangea Elephant Sanctuary: Europe’s first large-scale elephant sanctuary, set on a 402-hectare reserve in the Alentejo region of Portugal, across the municipalities of Vila Viçosa and Alandroal. Working in partnership with circuses, zoos and authorities, the sanctuary provides lifelong, welfare-led care for elephants in a landscape where they can roam, forage and live in the company of their own kind. Pangea Elephant Sanctuary is operated by Associação Natureza Pangea (Portugal) and supported by The Pangea Trust, a UK registered charity. It is supported by its Founding Members: Born Free Foundation, Olsen Animal Trust, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, and World Animal Protection.
About the ban: Portugal’s parliament voted in 2018 to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses, with the ban taking full effect in 2024. The law was notable for pairing prohibition with a pathway for the animals and the people who kept them, including support for circus workers to retrain. Earlier in 2026, Pangea also helped rehome Sona, Portugal’s last circus tiger, to a specialist sanctuary in Spain; with Julie’s arrival, no wild circus animals remain in the country.
For more information and access to media content, please contact Filipa Azevedo Coutinho:
Email: [email protected]
Call: +351 967 378 973
Web: www.pangeatrust.org
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