Charley, once the last captive elephant in South Africa, has embarked on a new chapter of life at a private game reserve after spending 40 years in captivity.
When it comes to the specialized task of relocating elephants, Dr. Amir Khalil and his team are considered experts. The Egyptian veterinarian has an impressive track record, including the renowned relocation of Kaavan, an Asian elephant. In 2020, Khalil’s team rescued Kaavan from years of solitude at a zoo in Pakistan and transported him to a sanctuary in Cambodia, where he joined other elephants. Dubbed the “world’s loneliest elephant,” Kaavan’s relocation was a major success.
Charley, an aging four-ton African elephant, was next in line for help. Having outlived his companions at a zoo in Pretoria, where he resided for over two decades, Charley exhibited signs of distress following the death of his partner, Landa, in 2020. Recognizing his need for a more suitable environment, zoo officials decided to “retire” Charley to a large private game reserve located approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) away, where he could potentially form new bonds with other elephants.
Transporting an elephant is no simple feat. Elephants are sensitive creatures, and tranquilizing them is not ideal due to their size and the challenges it presents. Instead, Khalil, an animal rescue specialist with the Four Paws wildlife welfare organization, opted for a different approach. He, along with fellow veterinarians Dr. Marina Ivanova and Dr. Frank Göritz, began interacting with Charley two years ago to assess his readiness for the move and to build trust.
The team employed a methodical training process, encouraging Charley to approach a “training wall” with gaps where they could offer him food rewards, such as pumpkins, papaya, and beetroot—his favorites. This gradual training led Charley to willingly enter a large metal transport container. Surprisingly, Charley adapted to the crate training in less than two weeks.
In late August, after a lengthy journey by truck, Charley arrived at his new home at the Shambala private game reserve. Initially, he will be kept in a separate area from the main park to help him acclimate to his new surroundings. The reserve is home to wild elephant herds that Charley may eventually join.
Dr. Khalil noted that reintroducing captive elephants to a wild setting is still a rare occurrence and commended the efforts of the Pretoria zoo and South Africa’s environment ministry for their progressive initiative.
