Charley the Elephant Freed After 40 Years in Captivity

The last elephant in South Africa’s national zoo – a 42-year-old named Charley – has been released in the wild after spending 40 years of his life in captivity.

Charley was born in Zimbabwe in Hwange National Park. When he was two years old, Charley was shanghaied with nine other elephants and pressed into service by South Africa’s Boswell Circus, where he performed for 16 years. He was transferred to the Natal Lion Park in 2000, then to the national zoo (the National Zoological Garden of South Africa in Pretoria) in July, 2001.

There he languished for 23 years, where he witnessed the deaths of four other elephants, including his own month-old calf. Charley showed signs of distress associated with captivity, such as repetitive head swaying. (The zoo, which is generally regarded as a decent facility, has said the distressing behaviors stem from his years in the circus and would likely never be unlearned, regardless of Charley’s living conditions.)

Animal-rights groups Four Paws and the EMS Foundation teamed up to pressure the zoo and, by association, the South African government, to set Charley free at last. An ideal new home for Charley was readied at the Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo province, just three hours from the zoo.

Shambala is a 10,000-hectare (25,000-acre) reserve with experience reintegrating captive elephants into the wild. Charley – under the close supervision of veterinary and behavioral experts – will be slowly acclimated to more living space as he is introduced to new friends and a new life.

“Our dream is that at his own pace, Charlie will learn to be the elephant he was always meant to be,” the EMS Foundation said in a statement. “Soon, he will meet up and integrate into the existing elephant community on Shambala.”

With so many good people rooting for him, Charlie could live another 25 years.  

Get involved with the EMS Foundation here; donate to Four Paws here.

Photo credit: Four Paws