Charley the African elephant retires to freedom in the bush after spending decades in captivity

The last elephant in South Africa’s only national zoo has been freed.

After a nail-biting four-hour trip towards freedom, elephant Charley has arrived at his new home in the Shambala Private Game Reserve in Limpopo.

Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS, the Elizabeth Margaret Steyn (EMS) Foundation and Shambala Private Game Reserve have worked in collaboration for the retirement of the 42-year-old African elephant to the 10 000 hectare Shambala Private Game Reserve.

Charley was born in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Captured as a youngster along with nine other elephants, he was imported by the Boswell Circus in 1984. For 16 years Charley performed in the circus before being transferred to the Natal Lion Park in May, 2000. He arrived at the zoo on July 30, 2001. Over the past 23 years, Charley has witnessed the deaths of his four elephant companions and has shown signs of distress, including repetitive head-swaying, a behaviour commonly found in captivity.

A comprehensive relocation plan was designed by FOUR PAWS’ experts to ensure that Charley would be ready to enter his crate and be transported to Shambala where he will be reintegrated into a natural environment suitable for a male bull elephant.

The reserve has a proven track record of successfully reintegrating captive elephants into the wild. Since 2015, it has rehabilitated and released elephants that were previously used for elephant-back safaris. Today, the reserve is home to a thriving population of elephants.

Charley the elephant enters his adaptation enclosure at Shambala Private Game Reserve, beginning his acclimatisation period. FOUR PAWS and the EMS Foundation, key partners in orchestrating Charley’s retirement, oversee this crucial first step in his transition from Pretoria’s National Zoological Garden to a more natural environment. Attending to Charley is FOUR PAWS’ veterinarian Dr Frank Göritz. Picture: © FOUR PAWS

“This retirement is an important milestone for elephant Charley, but also for better animal welfare in South Africa. Together with our partners, we have been working tirelessly to end the loneliness of elephant Charley to see him thrive in his new species-appropriate home,” said FOUR PAWS CEO and president Josef Pfabigan.

The transfer of Charley to his new home was led by veterinarian Dr Amir Khalil, who said Charley underwent crate training before his relocation.

The day started out early, bringing Charley successfully into his transport crate due to the expert training. Leaving the zoo was challenging due to the passionate display of protesters who wanted Charley to stay.

“We understand the emotional response from the caretakers, and we are sure that once they can see him in a natural habitat with the proper space appropriate for an elephant, they may feel differently,” said Khalil.

Once on the open road, the transport to the reserve went smoothly.

Dr Amir Khalil assists in loading Charley’s transport crate onto a truck at the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria, preparing the African elephant for his journey to retirement after 23 years at the zoo. Picture: © FOUR PAWS

When the crate was in place, Charley walked out calmly and started to explore his boma. Charley had a good first night and is being monitored by a team of experts.

Veterinary and behavioural experts will be closely monitoring and supporting Charlie.

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

Cape Times