Portugal's Last Circus Elephant Just Retired to a 1,000-Acre Sanctuary After 40 Years

Portugal’s last circus elephant has officially clocked out after 40 years on the job. Julie, an African elephant captured as a calf in the late 1980s, spent four decades performing under the big top with the Victor Hugo Cardinali circus. But in 2018, Portugal banned wild animal performances, which meant Julie needed a new home. For years, her future was uncertain — until the Pangea Elephant Sanctuary opened its doors.

The sanctuary is the first of its kind in Europe, spanning 1,000 acres of open land. Julie arrived on June 30 and is now enjoying the kind of freedom she never had. Sanctuary director Kate Moore said the focus is on giving Julie the best possible quality of life after decades of captivity. Later this year, she’ll be joined by Kariba, another African elephant in her 40s from a Belgian zoo.

Here’s a bonus heart-warmer: an English primary school sponsored Julie with a £100 donation before her move. Kids literally helped an elephant retire. If that’s not the feel-good story of the summer, we don’t know what is. Would you support a ban on wild animals in circuses in your country? Let us know in the comments.