Interesting Nature

Portugal's last circus elephant gains 100 kg at her new sanctuary

Julie, Portugal's last circus elephant, moved about four months ago to the Pangea sanctuary in the southern Alentejo region. According to Euronews, the 400-hectare estate is the first of its scale in Europe, and Julie is its first resident. According to the sanctuary's director, Ryan Hockley, in a little over three months the elephant has gained about 100 kilograms, which is completely normal. Previously she spent most of her time in a barn, but now she has round-the-clock free access to any environment and loves wallowing in mud pools. Julie was brought from Africa about 40 years ago, and in 1988 she joined the Cardinali circus. Pangea's goal is to take in 20 to 30 elephants in the future, while the number of elephants in captivity in Europe is estimated at more than 600.