First Barn and Habitat Finalized After Winter Delays

After months of hard work and no shortage of challenges, construction on our first barn and habitat is now complete! Over the winter, the site faced historic storms, persistent flooding, and deep mud that slowed progress considerably. On top of that, there were supplier shipping delays because of damaged roads across the Iberian Peninsula. We are deeply grateful to the Metalviçosa construction team, whose dedication made this possible. Long days, weekend work, and a constant willingness to adapt meant that progress never fully stopped despite the difficult conditions.

A huge thanks to the Metalviçosa construction team that kept things moving forward even in the most difficult conditions. 

Built for Space and Adaptability

As we shared in earlier updates, the barn is critical infrastructure that provides shelter and a space for medical care and training. Designed with input from some of the world’s top elephant experts and sanctuaries, it includes five internal stalls and allows flexible management of three to five elephants depending on compatibility and individual needs. We follow the Protected Contact method, which means there is always a physical barrier between elephant and human.  

The first barn will have multiple habitats connected, with space to support 3 to 5 elephants at once.

Multiple habitats will connect to this central hub, giving us the ability to separate elephants based on species and sex, or even by personality when required. This is important because it supports compatible grouping and makes it possible to adapt the environment over time. African and Asian elephants, for example, can share barn access while remaining safely in their own distinct areas.

The first habitat features a natural stream running through the area, along with a pool and mud wallow for cooling off. The landscape offers a mix of open space, native vegetation, and varied terrain. Our goal was to create environments that feel as close to natural landscapes as possible, giving elephants room to explore and engage with their surroundings.

Expansion Planning Begins

With Phase One complete, attention now turns to what comes next. Planning for the second habitat is already underway, building on everything learned over the past months. There is still a great deal of work ahead, but we wanted to step back and take a moment to celebrate this moment with you. The foundations are in place to welcome our first elephants to Pangea.