Developed by the non-profit organization Pangea, which is registered in the UK and Portugal, the project is being presented this afternoon in Vila Viçosa.
The municipal councils of Alandroal and Vila Viçosa, both in the Évora district, are partners in this initiative, which is supported by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency, Kate Moore, General Director of Pangea, explained that the institution purchased a 402-hectare site in 2023 to establish the sanctuary and has been preparing it for the first elephants.
“We have been working on habitat management, improving its quality and ensuring it is as diverse as possible,” she said.
The construction phase began “about two months ago” with the building of “the first barn and first enclosure,” and these works “could be completed in December,” the General Director revealed, estimating that they expect to “receive the first elephants at the beginning of 2026, between January and March.”
This project, considered “pioneering” by Pangea, aims to provide “lifelong care for elephants rehabilitated from zoos and circuses across the European continent,” with plans to host “between 20 to 30” animals, according to Kate Moore.
“We will undertake extensive research on the space elephants need and what is working. We will therefore constantly assess this number,” she stated.
In a statement, Pangea explained that the project involves creating a natural space for “vulnerable elephants,” allowing them to “move freely, feed, and socialize as they would in their wild habitat.”
“We are not here to rescue elephants but to work with people who already have elephants and are seeking an alternative for these animals,” Kate Moore explained, citing the example of “elephants in countries where circuses have been banned from using wild animals.”
These will be “priority elephants for the sanctuary,” as well as animals from “zoos that no longer wish to have elephants but do not have a place to send them.”
“We want to help these circuses, zoos, and governments provide a home for these elephants that no longer have a place to live, offering them a natural habitat where they can roam freely, but also with veterinary and zootecnic care,” she emphasized.
After conducting a European-scale feasibility study, “Portugal was selected for its ideal habitat and climate conditions,” the promoters indicated.
Kate Moore further commented to Lusa that the property chosen in the Alentejo region was considered “the best due to its topography, gently rolling hills suitable for elephants to roam, highly diverse habitat, and extensive private and well-watered area.”
According to the General Director of the non-profit institution, who did not specify the investment but acknowledged it as “significant” and resulting “from donations by organizations and the public,” Pangea wants to prioritize community engagement.
“We are already working with some local businesses and seek to establish more partnerships and ensure we are also employing local people,” she emphasized, noting that the project includes specialists in elephant welfare and husbandry, along with a planned “training program to develop local skills.”
This first major elephant sanctuary in Europe will not be regularly open to the public, but Kate Moore admitted that ‘open days’ will be organized annually, “selecting people from the local community and others who donate to the project through a raffle or lottery, allowing them to visit the space.”
