After years of advocacy, Charlie, the beloved African elephant at Pretoria’s National Zoological Garden, is finally on his way to freedom and retirement at the Shambala Private Game Reserve.
Pretoria, South Africa (29 July 2024) – South Africans have been advocating for Charlie’s freedom for many years, and today, we received the good news many have been waiting for.
*Charlie, the beloved African elephant bull of the National Zoological Garden (NZG) in Pretoria, is finally on his way to a well-deserved retirement.
Charlie’s journey is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Born in Hwange National Park in 1982, he was captured and brought to the Brian Boswell Circus in South Africa in 1984. By 2001, Charlie found a new home at the National Zoological Gardens, where he has resided for over two decades.
This year Charlie is set to experience freedom for the first time in his life.
The call for Charlie’s relocation has been growing louder over the past four years. Advocacy from numerous organisations culminated in a petition with over 42,000 signatures and an open letter to the ex-Environment Minister Barbara Creecy in 2021. The Pro Elephant Network (PREN) and the EMS Foundation submitted expert assessment reports to the Minister, emphasising the need for Charlie’s retirement.
In 2023, SANBI announced Charlie’s retirement, marking the first significant step towards his relocation. Today, we share the joyous news that the relocation process has officially begun. Charlie is on his way to the Shambala Private Game Reserve, a sanctuary in the Waterberg region of Limpopo province.
Nontsikelelo Mpulo, Director of Marketing, Communication and Commercialisation at SANBI, shared the details of Charlie’s retirement plan: “The decision was made more than a year ago to retire Charley. Among a number of factors that were considered was his advanced age. Potential host facilities responded to a call for expressions of interest about providing a retirement home for Charley. Having interrogated the responses, the proposal from the EMS Foundation and Shambala Private Game Reserve to accommodate Charley in his retirement was approved.”
Shambala Private Game Reserve has outlined a comprehensive relocation plan, which includes the capture, transport, and integration of Charlie into their facility. He will initially be kept by himself at a holding facility while he adjusts to his new environment, with the hope of eventually integrating him into Shambala’s resident elephant herd. The reserve will provide regular health reports to SANBI for at least a year following his arrival, ensuring his continued care and oversight.
Reflecting on Charlie’s Legacy
Charlie’s presence at the NZG has been significant. “Charley is a well-loved resident of the National Zoological Garden. He arrived at the NZG from years in a circus environment in July 2001 and has been with the zoo for 23 years,” Ms Mpulo explains.
“During his tenure at NZG, Charley has not only entertained and educated thousands of visitors but also contributed to various research initiatives that are invaluable to the conservation and management of elephants. He deserves to continue enjoying the excellent care in retirement that he received at NZG for decades.”
Today, we celebrate a victory for animal welfare and the power of collective advocacy. Charlie’s story reminds us of the importance of compassion and the impact we can have when we come together for a common cause.
Charlie, after decades of captivity, is finally free.
*Charlie’s name is sometimes written as Charley in different publications.
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