As welfare regulations in Europe move away from the use of wild animals in circuses and establish higher standards for enclosures, there is a growing need for compassionate rehoming solutions for elephants with nowhere else to go.
Elephants are highly social and intelligent animals with a need for large spaces, movement and stable social relationships, and the absence of these conditions can lead to both physical and behavioral concerns. At the same time, there are very few long-term alternatives for elephants that can no longer remain where they are. For these animals, it is essential to develop solutions that take their complex needs into account and ensure improved living conditions for the rest of their lives.
The Pangea Trust works to address this need through the establishment of Europe’s first large-scale elephant sanctuary. The sanctuary is located in southern Portugal and covers an area of approximately 400 hectares that was previously used for agriculture and cattle ranching. The land is being gradually transformed into a diverse landscape, with a focus on nature restoration and space for the elephants’ natural movement patterns.
The sanctuary is divided into large zones, making it possible to take account of the elephants’ social structures, including the separation of Asian and African elephants, or separating into male and female herds to prevent breeding. Here, the elephants live outdoors all year round and receive individual care based on professional assessments and international expertise. The aim is not to reintroduce the elephants to the wild, but to offer them a life in more natural and stable surroundings than traditional captivity can provide.
With support from the QATO Foundation, it is possible to safeguard the welfare of the first elephant to move into the sanctuary. The funding contributes to the establishment of the necessary care and management measures associated with the relocation and ensures that the elephant receives qualified, individually tailored care from day one.
The elephant sanctuary will be able to accommodate up to 30 elephants, with the opportunity to expand in the future through adjacent land.
At the same time, the project has a broader perspective, as the area may eventually be returned to wild nature once the need for the sanctuary no longer exists. The project therefore contributes both to improved animal welfare in the here and now and to long-term solutions for wild nature in the future.
"Elephants that have lived for decades in captivity often carry both physical and social scars. What they need is not entertainment or training, but space, stability and an opportunity to live a life as natural as possible. The sanctuary in Portugal is designed to meet those needs, offering lifelong care in an environment that respects the elephants’ complex behaviour and social structures. It represents a responsible and realistic alternative for elephants that have nowhere else to go,” says Kate Moore, Managing Director.
The Pangea Trust is a non-profit organisation founded in 2017 with the purpose of creating long-term solutions for elephants in captivity. The organisation works with the establishment and operation of elephant sanctuaries based on professional expertise, animal welfare and nature restoration. The Pangea Trust’s primary activities are in Portugal, and it collaborates with international experts and organisations specialising in elephant welfare.
