The organisations have been in discussions with Minister Barbara Creecy since the 16th of December 2020, negotiating the very best retirement options for Charlie, based on the recommendations of the most experienced elephant experts in the world.
Pretoria, South Africa (09 March 2023) – The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) recently announced that the organisation is pursuing options for the retirement of Charlie the Elephant from the Pretoria National Zoological Garden into a suitable wildlife sanctuary or similar setting, and we have just received an update!
Charlie, is an African male elephant, who was born in Hwange National Park in 1982, was captured and exported to the Brian Boswell Circus in South Africa in 1984 and was sent to the National Zoological Gardens on the 30th of July 2001.
The elephant is 43 years old this year and has lived most of his life as a caged animal. This would be the first time in his life that he would feel freedom.
In the past three years, there have been growing calls to relocate the elephant, with many organisations raising their concerns publicly. A petition garnered over 41,000 signatures, and a collective open letter was sent to Environment Minister Barbara Creecy in 2021.
The Members of the Pro Elephant Network (PREN) and the EMS Foundation have just announced that they have submitted the Expert Assessment Reports of Charlie, the solitary elephant at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria, to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy.
The EMS Foundation and members of PREN have been in discussions with Minister Barbara Creecy since the 16th of December 2020, negotiating the very best retirement options for Charlie, based on the recommendations of the most experienced elephant experts in the world.
“Charlie’s expert psychological and medical rehabilitation, his relocation to, and his reintegration into a protected natural environment would arrive at no cost to the South African Biodiversity Institute, the South African government, or the South African taxpayer.”
This specialized, expert medical team were responsible for the rehabilitation, relocation, and initial phases of integration of Kaavan, once called the loneliest elephant in the world. This team have also recently treated the four African elephants in the Karachi Zoo and Safari Parks who conducted lifesaving, unique and complicated surgeries from which all four elephants have recovered. Dr Brett Bard is a South African veterinarian, practising in the Karoo in the Western Cape.
“The Members of PREN and the EMS Foundation are looking forward to receiving Minister Creecy’s earliest response and engaging on this matter further with her so that the recommendations made by the experts can be fulfilled in the best interests of Charlie.
We would like to take this opportunity to warmly and gratefully thank all the experts who have so generously participated in these important assessment processes.”
The date for his retirement will be announced once all processes are finalised, but African Elephants have a lifespan of up to 70 years, which means he has got some good time to enjoy his freedom.