Julie, Africa-born elephant kept captive in a Portuguese circus since 1988, has become the first resident of Pangea — a 400-hectare sanctuary in the Alentejo region that presents itself as Europe's first large-scale elephant refuge. Captured in the wild roughly 40 years ago, she is also the last wild animal held by any circus in Portugal, following the country's 2018 ban that took full effect in 2024.
(c) Sabik Nissam

Le premier sanctuaire d’éléphants du Portugal ouvre en Alentejo avec la dernière éléphante de cirque

EURONEWS

Julie, née en Afrique et éléphante de cirque au Portugal depuis 1988, est devenue la première résidente de Pangea, un sanctuaire de 400 hectares en Alentejo qui se présente comme le premier refuge à grande échelle pour éléphants en Europe. Elle était aussi le dernier animal sauvage détenu par un cirque au Portugal, après l’interdiction adoptée en 2018 et pleinement entrée en vigueur en 2024.

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