Our work

A sanctuary for elephants

Pangea is blessed with rolling hills, dams and streams, grasslands, scrub and woodland, throughout which elephants will have the freedom to wander, graze, and socialise at will.

Each elephant will also receive daily expert care following a nutritional and veterinary husbandry plan tailored to their unique individual needs, and international zoo and sanctuary standards will be exceeded.  

Our management approach is endorsed by captive elephant experts and wild elephant biologists, and it is shaped by the experience of large-scale facilities worldwide that have successfully helped captive elephants adjust to more expansive environments.

Pangea aims to accept any elephant in need within Europe.  Groups will be separated by gender and species (Asian/African) and will be assigned to different habitats.  Compatibility of individuals will be carefully assessed before integration, and we will also work closely with the former keepers of each new arrival to ensure a smooth transition. 

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A haven for nature

Thousands of years ago, elephants roamed the Iberian Peninsula and played a key role in shaping the region’s plant life. The influence of these megaherbivores is missed, and elephants will once again interact with and influence the habitat at Pangea.   

We have partnered with Mediterranean landscape experts to restore ecological integrity for the benefit of native flora and fauna as well as resident elephants.  Areas degraded by eucalyptus and cattle will be regenerated to help nature recover.  

Coupling the principles of rewilding with land management practices – such as rotation and low elephant stocking densities – will help to increase biodiversity, improve soil quality, and reduce erosion and habitat degradation, and reduce wildfire risk. 

An inspiration for all

 Elephants are keystone species within their ecosystems and one of the most sentient, intelligent and complex of all animals on earth.

Stories of Portugal’s native wildlife, Pangea’s elephants, their wild counterparts in Africa and Asia, and the elephants that once roamed Europe offer a chance to inspire people about the wonders of nature and the need to live in balance with it. 

Drawing on the success of other models around the world, our offsite Discovery Centre will be open to the public as an immersive, interactive space, and will be complimented by an online programme of advocacy and education. 

Pangea is also committed to delivering world-class, actionable research on elephant welfare and ecological adaptation in partnership with leading academic institutions with support from students and volunteers. 

This will help us to refine our own management techniques and we will also share findings with the broader communities of elephant sanctuaries, ecologists, and conservationists.

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Provide a safe haven for elephants in need

Help us create Europe's first large-scale sanctuary, where elephants can roam freely in an expansive, natural habitat, surrounded by their own kind.

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