Julie, Portugal's final circus elephant, has begun a new life at a 1,000-acre sanctuary two hours east of Lisbon, marking the end of her 40 years performing in circuses. Taken from her mother in southern Africa as a calf in the 1980s, Julie was sold into the circus trade and purchased by the Victor Hugo Cardinali Circus, the largest in Portugal.
Her new home, established by the British charity Pangea Trust, features rolling hills, grasslands, forests, and lakes. This reserve is the first of its kind in Europe and was made possible after Pangea persuaded the circus to allow Julie to spend her retirement years there. While many European countries have banned wild animals in circuses, there has historically been no dedicated place for retired elephants.
For the past two weeks, Julie has embraced her freedom, engaging in activities like mud baths and grazing. Kate Moore, Pangea's Managing Director, noted the similarity between the Alentejo region's landscape and climate in Portugal and Africa, suggesting it might help Julie recall her early life. Moore described elephants as intelligent, social creatures with complex needs and remarkable memories.
Within days of arriving, Julie exhibited behaviors reminiscent of a wild elephant, including grazing, interacting with trees, and wallowing in mud. Her vocalizations, described as rumbling, are a positive sign, but Moore emphasized the need for a companion. Kariba, a female African elephant currently housed alone in a Belgian zoo, is expected to join Julie in the coming months, with plans for more elephants to follow.
Even Julie's former circus family has maintained contact, bringing her baskets of fruit after her transport to the sanctuary. For the final years of her circus tenure, Julie was not performing but was under the care of the staff.
Across Europe, approximately 600 elephants live in captivity, with about 40 still performing in circus-like settings. The United Kingdom retired its last circus elephant in 2011, while Portugal's ban on wild animals in circuses, enacted in 2018, fully took effect in 2024. Earlier this year, Pangea facilitated the relocation of Sona, Portugal's last circus tiger, to a sanctuary in Spain. Pangea relies on donations to fund its operations and is seeking to develop an additional 70 acres of habitat for Julie and future elephant residents.