The agreement, announced by the Pangea Trust and Circo Vítor Hugo Cardinali, will see the African elephant moved to Pangea, the first large-scale elephant sanctuary in Europe. Once Julie has arrived, no wild animals of any kind will be held in any Portuguese circus.
Portugal’s ban on wild animals in circuses was passed in 2018 and came fully into effect in 2024. Earlier this year, Pangea also helped rehome Sona, the country’s last circus tiger, to a sanctuary in Spain that specialises in big cats. However, until Pangea was completed and ready to receive elephants, there was nowhere for Julie to go.
“This has not been an easy decision, as she has been a member of our family for nearly forty years,” said Vítor Hugo Cardinali. “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.”
Julie arrived in Portugal from South Africa in the 1980s and joined the Cardinali family in 1988. Her last companion died in 2024, leaving her living alone.
While the majority of EU member states have introduced similar bans, some have struggled to enforce them, often citing a shortage of sanctuary capacity. Spain, France and Italy continue to grapple with wild animals, including elephants, still held in circuses, while Germany has yet to pass a national ban.
Kate Moore, Managing Director of The Pangea Trust, said: “Many circuses and some zoos in Europe are reaching the point – through changing legislation, the loss of companions, 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 Cardinali family. “
Julie will join Kariba, a lone African elephant who will soon travel to Portugal from a Belgian zoo. The two share a similar history, having both been taken from the wild as young calves and spending some forty years in captivity. Neither can be returned to the wild, but at Pangea they will have companionship, the freedom to roam and forage in natural habitat, and the specialist veterinary and behavioural care designed to address the physical and psychological effects of long-term captivity.
Pangea and Circo Vítor Hugo Cardinali are preparing Julie for her transfer, with her arrival expected in the coming months.