SA’S LAST ZOO ELEPHANT RELEASED INTO WILD

Charlie is back in the wild where he belongs.

This was the happy message shared from Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo and now Charlie’s new home.

The elephant was transported during a four-hour trip from Pretoria Zoo to Shambala.

Daily Maverick reports that Charlie was captured in Hwange, Zimbabwe, 43 years ago and was trained in the Boswell Wilkie Circus. When it closed down he was transferred to the Natal Lion Park and then, in 2001, to the Pretoria Zoo.

Charlie’s release into the wild was due to years of negations between the South African government, the Pro Elephant Network and the EMS Foundation.

While captured at the zoo, three of Charlie’s friends died prematurely and he lost his daughter when she was less than one month old.

To give Charlie time to adjust to his new environment, he will initially be kept at a holding facility. Here he will be closely monitored by behavioural experts to ensure he settles down without any hiccups.

They will also oversee Charlie meeting up with and integrating into the existing elephant herd at Shambala.

The Pretoria Zoo, South Africa’s only national zoo, has confirmed that its elephant enclosure will be closed down.

Image credit: SAPeople