{"id":7070,"date":"2026-05-04T14:34:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T14:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pangeatrust.org\/?p=7070"},"modified":"2026-05-04T15:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T15:54:51","slug":"encontrar-um-novo-lar-para-a-sona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pangeatrust.org\/pt\/finding-sona-a-new-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Encontrando um Novo Lar para a Sona"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Last Circus Tiger in Portugal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Most EU states now prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses. Portugal\u2019s ban came fully into force in 2025, but circuses and authorities have struggled to rehome some animals due to a lack of suitable options. Sona, a 16-year-old white tiger, was one of the last wild animals to be held in a circus in Portugal.<\/p>\n

We came into contact with Sona\u2019s owner, M\u00e1rcio Freitas of Circo Arena, through our work with the circus industry. He had been looking to rehome Sona for some time and did not want to send him to a private collector or another circus.<\/p>\n

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\"\"Sona was the last circus tiger in Portugal until he was moved to a Spanish sanctuary in March 2026.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/em><\/span>Sona has been in our family since he was a cub, and it was a hard decision to see him go, but we knew it was the best for him. We wanted him to have more space and specialised care in his later years. We were not happy with the options that had previously been presented, and we were grateful to Pangea for reaching out to help find a good solution.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 M\u00e1rcio Freitas, Circo Arena\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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We identified AAP Primadomus Sanctuary in Spain as a suitable new location, which is a rescue and rehabilitation centre recognized across Europe for their work with big cats rehomed from circuses and private collections. AAP kindly found space for Sona, with Pangea working alongside their team to provide veterinary oversight and support the permit process. Pangea partner, Olsen Animal Trust, also assisted in the process by contributing towards his future lifetime care.<\/span> Sona was transported from Portugal to the sanctuary in Spain in March 2026.
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Sona is now nearing the end of quarantine and will soon move into a spacious, natural enclosure designed for long-term care. M\u00e1rcio plans to visit him once he has settled. Marcio\u2019s openness and willingness to collaborate made a real difference, allowing all parties to focus on our shared goal, to find Sona the best possible long-term home in his final years.<\/p>\n

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  The Last Circus Tiger in Portugal   Most EU states now prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses. Portugal\u2019s ban came fully into force in 2025, but circuses and authorities have struggled to rehome some animals due to a lack of suitable options. Sona, a 16-year-old white tiger, was one of the last wild animals to be held in a circus in Portugal. We came into contact with Sona\u2019s owner, M\u00e1rcio Freitas of Circo Arena, through our work with the circus industry. He had been looking to rehome Sona for some time and did not want to send him to a private collector or another circus.     Sona was the last circus tiger in Portugal until he was moved to a Spanish sanctuary in March 2026.\u00a0   \u201cSona has been in our family since he was a cub, and it was a hard decision to see him go, but we knew it was the best for him. We wanted him to have more space and specialised care in his later years. We were not happy with the options that had previously been presented, and we were grateful to Pangea for reaching out to help find a good […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":7084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Introducing the Wild Tauros<\/strong><\/h3>

Another major milestone in our rewilding journey at Pangea! Thanks to our ongoing collaboration with Rewilding Portugal, we have successfully introduced a herd of Tauros to the sanctuary as part of our commitment to restoring native biodiversity and natural grazing dynamics.<\/p>

The\u00a0Tauros\u00a0is a keystone species, playing a vital role in shaping landscapes through natural grazing. These animals are part of the\u00a0Tauros\u00a0Programme, which seeks to restore the ecological role of the extinct aurochs (Bos primigenius) by selectively breeding modern cattle with primitive traits. By doing so, we can bring back a species that once maintained open habitats, controlled shrub encroachment, and contributed to a resilient ecosystem. You can learn more about Rewilding Portugal\u2019s\u00a0Tauros\u00a0Programme\u00a0here<\/a>. At Pangea, these newly introduced Tauros will:<\/p>