#ZoosWithoutElephants is NOT a distant dream! It is turning into reality one elephant at a time! 

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has announced its decision to retire popular Elephant Charley (or Charlie) from the Pretoria National Zoological Garden. SANBI said it is pursuing options for Charley to retire in a suitable wildlife sanctuary or similar setting.

Charley is now 42 and has been at the National Zoological Gardens for about 22 years, after being exposed to a circus environment for about 20 years. The retirement may include giving the male tusker the opportunity to have some female companionship following the death of his late partner Landa (36), in 2019, said SANBI.

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THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Thank you EMS Foundation for relentlessly campaigning for Charlie's freedom from the Pretoria Zoo. And a big thanks to South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for doing the right thing for Charlie and setting a great example for other zoos around the world.