Portugal’s Last Circus Elephant is Coming to Pangea

PORTUGAL’S LAST CIRCUS ELEPHANT TO BEGIN NEW CHAPTER AT ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

A Joint Statement from the Pangea Trust & Circo Víctor Hugo Cardinali

7th May 2026

Circo Víctor Hugo Cardinali and the Pangea Trust jointly announce the relocation of Julie, Portugal’s last circus elephant, to Pangea’s sanctuary in the Alentejo, southern Portugal. The agreement has been reached voluntarily, in a spirit of shared commitment to Julie’s welfare.

Julie arrived in Portugal from southern Africa as a young calf and joined the Cardinali circus in 1988. She was retired from performance in 2024 when Portugal’s ban on the use of wild animals in circuses came fully into effect, and her last remaining companion died that same year. As Víctor Hugo Cardinali considered options for Julie’s future, Pangea was in a position to offer her a permanent home.

Pangea’s purpose-built sanctuary is dedicated to providing elephants like Julie with the space, environment and companionship they need to meet their basic needs. Resident elephants will also be cared for by a specialist team with the expertise to support her health and well-being in their final years.

Mr. Cardinali will remain closely involved throughout the transition, drawing on his long knowledge of her character, habits and needs. Pangea’s veterinary team are carrying out the necessary health assessments and working with her current carers to prepare Julie for transfer.

Elephants are highly complex, social animals, and companionship with their own kind is a fundamental need. Julie will join Kariba, another female African elephant of a similar age, who is currently living alone at a zoo in Belgium and is due to be transferred to Pangea soon.

Víctor Hugo Cardinali, Circus Director: “This has not been an easy decision, as she has been a member of our family for decades, but we believe it is the right decision for Julie. Working with Pangea on her transition to her new home was a critical factor in our deliberations.“

Kate Moore, Pangea’s Managing Director: “Many circuses and some zoos in Europe are reaching the point – through changing legislation, the loss of a companion, or simply a decision to move on – where keeping elephants is no longer possible or appropriate. 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. Elephant relocations are complex, and their continued involvement is invaluable.“

Joana Vasconcelos, a Pangea Ambassador, one of Portugal’s most celebrated artists, and a key force behind this agreement, said: “I find it wonderful that one of the very first elephants to arrive at Pangea will be the last circus elephant in Portugal. Julie marks the end of a long chapter, one in which wild animals were part of circus life here. Whatever you feel about that change, the law has moved on, and so must we. My invitation is to look ahead – to honour the extraordinary skill, artistry and cultural heritage of the circus, and to support these remarkable institutions as they evolve. Go. Be amazed. Be part of that future.“

Julie, a 40-year-old female African elephant, has been with the Circo Víctor Hugo Cardinali since 1988 and is also the last remaining wild animal in any Portuguese circus.

Notes to editors

The Pangea Trust is a registered non-profit incorporated in the UK and Portugal. Its 1000-acre sanctuary, located in the Alentejo, is purpose-built to provide elephants with the space, environment and companionship they need to meet their basic needs. Its supporting partners include the Born Free Foundation, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, Olsen Animal Trust, and World Animal Protection (Denmark). Find out more at www.pangeatrust.org.

Circo Víctor Hugo Cardinali is one of Portugal’s most famous and longest-running circuses, founded in 1987, and widely regarded as one of the great traditional circuses of the Iberian Peninsula. It continues to tour Portugal in 2026. Find out more at https://victorhugocardinali.com/.

In 2018, the Portuguese parliament voted to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses, with cross-party support. The ban came into full effect in 2024.