Vienna, Sep 4 (EFE).- After 42 years of captivity, Charley the elephant has taken his first steps toward freedom, now roaming the African savanna in the Shambala Private Reserve.
The move marks the beginning of a new chapter for the tusker, who was saved from life-long abuse in a circus and zoo, according to the global animal welfare organisation Four Paws.
The elephant has begun adapting to his new environment at the Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa.
A Four Paws statement said that after being freed from decades of captivity, Charley was now learning to live like a wild elephant.
Released into a one-hectare enclosure, Charley is gradually building the skills needed for survival in the wild.
His new home features a pool and mud bath, crucial for his skincare and well-being.
Marina Ivanova, a veterinarian with Four Paws, said Charley was rapidly adapting, already forming bonds with other elephants in the reserve, and engaging in natural behaviors like trumpeting and taking mud baths.
Despite the progress, Charley’s journey to full freedom isn’t over.
He still needs to gain over weight and build the necessary muscles for life in the wild. His current diet includes up to 130 kg of vegetables, fruits, hay, and branches daily, with pumpkins being his favorite.
Charley currently weighs five tons and still needs to gain at least more than 100 kilograms.
He is also receiving special foot care to heal the deep cracks in his nails, a result of years of improper care in captivity.
“In the wild, elephants walk up to 150 kilometers per day”, Ivanova said.
“We are helping Charley to slowly build up the needed muscles for his big release into the entire reserve. He is on a special diet to gain weight for his life in the wild. We are teaching him how to pick fresh branches from trees, which are important for his digestion.”
Born in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in 1982, Charley was captured as a young elephant and forced to perform in South Africa’s Boswell Circus.
After his owner faced animal cruelty charges, Charley spent over two decades alone in a barren zoo enclosure before his rescue.
Now, with the support of Four Paws, the EMS Foundation, and Shambala Private Reserve, Charley is finally beginning to heal and experience the life he was always meant to live. EFE
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