Portugal's final circus elephant is preparing to leave the big top behind forever. Julie, a 45-year-old African elephant who has spent nearly four decades performing under circus tents, will relocate to the Pangea Sanctuary in Alentejo in the coming weeks—a milestone that marks the country's full compliance with its 2019 ban on wild animals in entertainment venues.
The Victor Hugo Cardinali circus, Julie's home since 1988, voluntarily agreed to her transfer in coordination with the Pangea Trust and the UK-based charity Born Free Foundation. This marks not just the end of an era for Portuguese circus culture, but the beginning of what veterinary experts hope will be a rehabilitative chapter for an aging elephant with mobility issues.
Why This Matters
• Legal closure: Julie's transfer completes Portugal's transition away from exotic animal performances, a process that began with Law 20/2019 and officially banned wild circus animals starting in 2024.
• First of its kind: The Pangea Sanctuary, spanning 402 hectares, is Europe's first large-scale elephant refuge, modeled after successful facilities in Latin America and Asia.
• Welfare benchmark: Julie's case demonstrates how voluntary cooperation between circus owners and sanctuaries can set a humane standard for the 600+ elephants still in European captivity.
From Southern Africa to Portuguese Sawdust
Julie arrived in Portugal as a young calf from southern Africa in 1988, entering a world of traveling performances, confined quarters, and human crowds. For 36 years, she was the face of the Victor Hugo Cardinali circus, touring towns across the country. Her companion, another elephant named Samba, shared that life until dying in 2024, leaving Julie isolated—a condition particularly damaging for elephants, who are highly social herd animals.
By 2024, when Portugal's circus ban took full effect, 21 exotic animals were registered with circus operators across the country, according to data from the Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV). By this June, that number will drop to zero. Circus owners faced a choice: voluntarily surrender their animals to accredited sanctuaries, or face legal penalties. Those who cooperated early were eligible for professional retraining subsidies to transition away from animal-based acts.
Victor Hugo Cardinali chose the first path. Ryan Hockley, Pangea's Sanctuary Manager, and Graça Oliveira, the sanctuary's veterinarian, have been making regular visits to Julie for months. Oliveira, who previously treated Samba, is conducting the mandatory health screenings required before any cross-border animal transfer. Cardinali has been transparent about Julie's diet, routines, and behavioral quirks—details that will prove essential during her adjustment period.
What This Means for Julie's Health
At 45, Julie is entering the final third of her expected lifespan. Wild African elephants can live into their 60s or early 70s, but captive animals often face joint degeneration, obesity, and chronic stress from years of restricted movement and unnatural environments. Julie's veterinary assessments confirm age-related arthritis and mobility limitations, conditions exacerbated by decades of confinement on hard surfaces and repetitive performance routines.
The Pangea Sanctuary is designed to address precisely these issues. Spread across nearly 1,000 acres of Alentejo scrubland, the facility offers soft terrain, natural foraging opportunities, mud wallows, and water features—critical for elephants, who instinctively use mud to cool their skin and ease joint pain. Julie will have room to walk several kilometers per day if she chooses, a stark contrast to the few square meters of a circus enclosure.
She will also meet Kariba, another African elephant of similar age, who has spent years alone in a Belgian zoo. Elephant socialization is not optional—it is a biological necessity. Studies of sanctuary transitions show that elephants who regain herd contact exhibit lower stress hormones, improved appetite, and a reduction in stereotypic behaviors like swaying or pacing, which are hallmarks of psychological trauma.
Europe's Elephant Problem
Portugal's ban is part of a broader European trend. Over the past decade, Austria, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom have all restricted or banned wild animals in circuses. But legislation alone does not solve the logistical challenge: where do the animals go?
More than 600 elephants remain in European facilities—zoos, circuses, and private collections—many in substandard conditions. Pangea Sanctuary is positioning itself as the continent's answer. Its first residents are expected to arrive between January and March 2026, with Julie and Kariba following in May or June. The facility can eventually house dozens of elephants, each given individualized care plans based on age, health, and social compatibility.
This model draws inspiration from the Santuário de Elefantes Brasil (SEB) in Mato Grosso, which has successfully rehabilitated elephants like Ramba (airlifted from Chile after 40 years in circuses) and Pocha and Guillermina (transported from Argentina). SEB has demonstrated that even severely traumatized elephants can recover significant physical and psychological health when given space, companionship, and species-appropriate care.
France's Elephant Haven and ethical sanctuaries in Thailand also follow this philosophy: no performances, no breeding programs, no public interaction beyond passive observation. The focus is entirely on the animal's well-being.
Impact on Expats and Investors
For Portugal's growing expatriate community—particularly retirees and digital nomads drawn to the Alentejo region—the Pangea Sanctuary represents a notable shift in local infrastructure. The facility is located in a rural area that has seen an influx of foreign buyers and eco-tourism investment. While the sanctuary is not a public zoo, it may offer limited educational tours or volunteer programs, potentially creating niche employment opportunities for bilingual residents with backgrounds in veterinary science, animal behavior, or hospitality.
From a policy perspective, Portugal's completion of its circus ban enhances its profile in international animal welfare rankings, a soft-power asset that aligns with the country's broader environmental branding. This may appeal to foreign investors prioritizing ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria, particularly in sectors like sustainable tourism and agribusiness.
For animal rights organizations operating in Portugal, Julie's transfer is a proof-of-concept. The Born Free Foundation and the Pangea Trust have shown that private-public coordination can resolve welfare issues without drawn-out legal battles. This precedent may influence how Portugal handles other captive wildlife situations, such as the ongoing debates over dolphinarium standards and exotic pet regulations.
What Happens Next
Julie's transport to Alentejo will be a multi-day operation, requiring specialized vehicles, veterinary oversight, and regular rest stops. Her caretakers from the circus will likely accompany her to ease the transition. Upon arrival, she will undergo a quarantine and observation period before being introduced to Kariba and the sanctuary's broader environment.
Her prognosis is cautiously optimistic. While her joint issues are irreversible, the sanctuary's terrain and the presence of other elephants should slow further deterioration and improve her quality of life. Sanctuary staff anticipate she will display natural behaviors—dust bathing, foraging, socializing—that she has not exhibited in decades.
For Portugal, Julie's story closes a chapter. For Julie herself, it may finally open one.
