Sanctuary in Alentejo prepares to receive second elephant

O elephant sanctuary of Pangea, in Alentejo, will receive a second ‘quilino’ in mid-November and talks are underway for the arrival of a third at the beginning of next year, it was revealed today.

On a press visit to the shrine, located on land located in the municipalities of Vila Viçosa and Alandroal, Évora district, the manager, Ryan Hockley, told Lusa agency that the female elephant Kariba should arrive “around the second week of November”.

“Kariba arrives next month and then a third elephant, perhaps at the beginning of next year,” said, expressing the desire that the shrine of Pangea may continue, in the coming years, “to receive new elephants every year.”.

The responsible pointed out that there are “several conversations going on” for the arrival of a third animal, but he refused to go forward in detail because it is “a delicate matter for any zoo or people visiting it regularly”.

About Kariba, who currently lives in a Belgian zoo, the sanctuary manager explained that this female elephant was due to arrive in the Alentejo, but its arrival was postponed for health reasons.

“ We have to make sure that the elephant is strong enough”, because “it needs to spend at least 36 hours in transport” to Portugal “and this can represent a great effort for any animal”, he stressed.

Ryan Hockley said that Kariba “is in much better medical condition today,” so be confident that the animal can arrive within about three weeks.

The sanctuary team is already preparing a plan for Julie, arrived in space just over three months ago, and Kariba “create a strong bond, be companions for life and share the same space”.

“ When we present Kariba and Julie, we will put a barrier between them to ensure that both stay safe and then we limit ourselves to observing behaviors, the way they interact physically and the sounds they emit,” he said.

Noting that both are African and are about 45 years old, the manager said that if “positive progress” is observed in these areas, the two “can be integrated into the same space very quickly”.

“ But if it takes some time for these positive behaviours to materialise, we do not need to rush anything. Let's do it at their pace and in the way that suits them best ", vincou.

Also in statements to Lusa, Johnny Nascimento, the sanctuary's handler and operations coordinator, revealed that Julie, the last circus elephant in Portugal, “came a little shy”, but within two weeks adapted to the sanctuary.

In the early days, he recalled, this female elephant came out of the stables very little, but, over time, “started walking more” and now even “has created the tracks” in outer space, which has about three hectares of area.

“ You've been spending more time out here. Through the cameras we have noticed that she may spend 18, 19 or 20 hours” a day, he says, reporting that she also enjoys the mud in the area, where she even sleeps, throwing mud into the body, so as to cool down on warm days and keep the insects away.

In addition to this outer space, the shrine has stables, with capacity for five animals and where medical behavior training is performed for later blood samples or tests, as well as measurements, such as weighing.

At 2.65 meters tall and 2,930 pounds of weight, Julie eats every day between 80 and 100 kilos of oatmeal, feed, branches and shrubs and a small amount of fruit and vegetables.

Pangea plans to increase next year the outer space of the sanctuary for elephants, from the current three hectares of area to the 30.

Considering “the first great sanctuary of Europe”, the reserve, which opens on time for group visits, is intended for elephants who lived in captivity. It has a capacity for 30 animals and an investment of EUR 15 million is planned in about 10 years.