GAUTENG. – Charley, die geliefde olifant en inwoner van die Nasionale Dieretuin in Pretoria is eersdaags afgetree.
Nontsikelelo Mpulo, woordvoerder vir die dieretuin, sê Charley, wat reeds vir meer as twee dekades besoekers by die dieretuin bekoor, se aftrede is meer as ‘n jaar gelede aangekondig. Hy is as ‘n kalf van net oor die twee jaar vanaf Zimbabwe gedurende 1982 by ‘n sirkus ingeneem en het in Julie 2001 uit die sirkus by die dieretuin aangekom.
Mpula sê na oorweging van verskeie belangstellendes wat Charley ‘n aftreetuiste wou bied, is besluit Charley sal by Shambala- privaat wildreservaat in die Waterberg aftree.
Charley word tans vir sy verhuising na sy aftree-tuiste voorberei wat moontlik nog tot in November kan duur. Hy sal vir eers op sy eie woon en gemonitor word, waartydens gesondheidsverslae vir ten minste ‘n jaar aan SANBI voorsien sal word, alvorens hy hopelik by ander inwonende olifante op die reservaat sal aansluit.
Besoekers aan die dieretuin kan tans sien hoe Charley voorberei word en hoe daar met hom gewerk word.
Lees die Pretoria-dieretuin se volledige verklaring hier onder:
A charming and charismatic member of the National Zoo community who has entertained, enthralled and educated thousands.
Charley, the adult African elephant bull who has been a cherished resident at the National Zoological Garden (NZG) in Pretoria for over two decades, is set to retire. This is the announcement today of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the organisation responsible for managing the Zoo.
“The decision was made more than a year ago to retire Charley. Among a number of factors that were considered was his advanced age,” says Nontsikelelo Mpulo, Director of Marketing, Communication and Commercialisation at SANBI. “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, situated in the Waterberg region of Limpopo province, will be Charley’s new home. The reserve has committed to a comprehensive relocation plan, outlining the capture, transport, and integration of Charley into its facility. Shambala will also provide regular health reports to SANBI for at least a year following his arrival, ensuring continued oversight and care. Charley will initially be kept by himself at a holding facility while he adjusts to his new living conditions. It is hoped that he will eventually be integrated into Shambala’s resident elephant herd.
The relocation process has begun and may extend until November 2024, depending on Charley’s response to the transitional programme.
“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,” explains Ms Mpulo. “He has never had to fend for himself in the wild. 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. Charley also contributed to the preservation of biological materials for future research. He deserves to continue enjoying the excellent care in retirement that he received at NZG for decades.
“Management, staff and visitors to the National Zoo will miss Charley. He is a charismatic and charming member of the larger zoo community nationally and internationally. We all knew that the time would come when this majestic animal would have to retire. We extend our heartfelt wishes for his well-being and happiness in his new home.”
The National Zoological Gardens continue providing research and educational, tourism and recreational experiences for visitors, including thousands of students, while maintaining high animal welfare standards.
Die NDBV het die volgende verklaring vrygestel:
Charley, a captive African elephant from the Pretoria National Zoological Garden (PNZG), is almost free!
For over three years, the NSPCA has been liaising actively with the PNZG regarding Charley’s pitiful situation. The goal has been twofold: Firstly, to prevent the zoo from bringing in more captive elephants, and secondly, to advocate for Charley’s release to a suitable sanctuary. Finally, the NSPCA’s fight for Charley’s freedom has been won. On Saturday, 26 July 2024, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), responsible for managing the PNZG, announced Charley’s impending release to Shambala Private Game Reserve in Limpopo. It is hoped that he will eventually join the Reserve’s resident herd.
Trapped and taken from his wild home in Zimbabwe in 1982 as a two-year old calf, Charley was brought to South Africa and forced to perform in a circus. After 17 years of suffering, he was transferred to a different but equally distressing environment, this time at the PNZG, where he has spent the last 23 years.
Elephants are highly social animals who live in complex family groups. Charley, however, has spent the last four years of his life alone in a barren environment, empty of shade, exercise, enrichment, and company. He has consistently showed signs of stress, loneliness, depression, and boredom, despite him being described by the zoo as a ‘cherished, well-loved zoo resident’.
The NSPCA maintains its stance that no wild animal should be kept in captivity, and is happy that the right decision has finally been made. We will continue to monitor Charley’s situation to ensure he finally gets to experience the life that he deserves.
Go well, Charley! 
To support our fight against elephants in captivity, please consider adopting our Freedom for Elephants project: https://nspca.co.za/adopt-a-project/freedom-for-elephants/
#NSPCA#SPCA#CharleyIsFree#FreedomForElephants#NoMoreCaptivity#NoToZoos
