The elephant named Charlie in South Africa’s zoo has been released back to the wild after being in a cage for 40 years.

The elephant was captured in 1984 and taken to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park when he was two years old.

He was trained to perform tricks at Boswell Wilkie Circus in South Africa. In the 2000s, he was again relocated to the country’s only national zoo.

Animal welfare groups put forward their concerns regarding the elephant’s deteriorating health and suggested putting him back into the wild.

EMS Foundation, which advocates for the rights of wildlife, announced that after “a nail-biting four-hour trip to freedom,” the elephant has found his new home at the Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo province.

This profound event took years of effort and negotiation with the South African government. It was made possible after the EMS Foundation and its associates provided scientific evidence proving that elephants suffer in zoos.

In the zoo, the elephant Charlie witnessed the death of four other elephants, including his calf, who was just an infant.

In 2019, it was observed that Charlie was displaying distressed behaviour similar to other animals in captivity.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute, which supervises the zoo, said it was the activities taught to him during his circus days that Charlie never really unlearned. The EMS Foundation said this was an inaccurate explanation.

Josef Pfabigan, Four Paws chief executive, said, “Together with our partners, we have been working tirelessly to end the loneliness of Charlie to see him thrive in his new species-appropriate home.”

The elephant’s assigned home is a 10,000-hectare reserve, with a prosperous population of elephants, known to successfully reintegrate animals returning to the wild.

There, Charlie will be under the supervision of veterinary and behavioural experts.

“We dream 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. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The elephant named Charlie in South Africa’s zoo has been released back to the wild after being in a cage for 40 years. The elephant was captured in 1984 and taken to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park when he was two years old.

The elephant named Charlie in South Africa’s zoo has been released back to the wild after being in a cage for 40 years. The elephant was captured in 1984 and taken to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park when he was two years old. He was trained to perform tricks at Boswell Wilkie Circus in South Africa. In the 2000s, he was again relocated to the country’s only national zoo. Animal welfare groups put forward their concerns regarding the elephant’s deteriorating health and suggested putting him back into the wild. EMS Foundation, which advocates for the rights of wildlife, announced that after “a nail-biting four-hour trip to freedom,” the elephant has found his new home at the Shambala Private Reserve in Limpopo province. This profound event took years of effort and negotiation with the South African government. It was made possible after the EMS Foundation and its associates provided scientific evidence proving that elephants suffer in zoos. In the zoo, the elephant Charlie witnessed the death of four other elephants, including his calf, who was just an infant. In 2019, it was observed that Charlie was displaying distressed behaviour similar to other animals in captivity. The South African National Biodiversity Institute, which supervises the zoo, said it was the activities taught to him during his circus days that Charlie never really unlearned. The EMS Foundation said this was an inaccurate explanation. Josef Pfabigan, Four Paws chief executive, said, “Together with our partners, we have been working tirelessly to end the loneliness of Charlie to see him thrive in his new species-appropriate home.” The elephant’s assigned home is a 10,000-hectare reserve, with a prosperous population of elephants, known to successfully reintegrate animals returning to the wild. There, Charlie will be under the supervision of veterinary and behavioural experts. “We dream 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. (With inputs from agencies)

Elephant in South Africa zoo released into the wild after 40 years of captivity

An elephant in the Indian state of Kerala died after she was fed a pineapple stuffed with crackers. &nbsp;The crackers burst in her mouth.

She was badly injured. She walked in pain for days. She was hungry, but couldn't eat with an injured mouth. Finally, she walked up to a river and stood there.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="zz" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15ecac90-70c9-4980-a5ac-aad30e069ae4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_126.jpg" />

The poor elephant has her mouth and trunk in the water--- perhaps trying to find some relief from the pain.

The forest official who posted the&nbsp;picture and narrated the elephant's story said&nbsp;that "she had a sixth sense that she was going to die".

Forest officials tried to help her, two elephants were brought to lead her out of the river but nothing worked and the injured elephant died on May 27.

And that's not it, the autopsy report revealed that the elephant was pregnant. The baby was murdered along with its mother.

It is animal cruelty at its worst and&nbsp;inhuman. Reports say the elephant meandered into the village in search of food.

She was pregnant and&nbsp;her desperation drove her out of her habitat. Animals do not enjoy walking into villages or destroying farms leave alone entering a city packed with humans, cars and pollution.

&nbsp;From the leopards in Mumbai's Borivali to the tigers in Sunderbans or this pregnant elephant. It is the same story.&nbsp;

Humans encroach into their territory drive them out of the wild that results in killing them when they come looking for food or capturing them and putting them in zoos.

Reports claim that pineapples laden with explosives are a common practice in Kerala. They are used by locals to protect their field from wild boars.

Now an FIR has been lodged. There should be exemplary punishment. When humans show cruelty we call them animals.

The fact is humans are the only animals who have proven to be capable of such cruelty.

An elephant in the Indian state of Kerala died after she was fed a pineapple stuffed with crackers. The crackers burst in her mouth. She was badly injured. She walked in pain for days.

An elephant in the Indian state of Kerala died after she was fed a pineapple stuffed with crackers. The crackers burst in her mouth. She was badly injured. She walked in pain for days. She was hungry, but couldn't eat with an injured mouth. Finally, she walked up to a river and stood there. The poor elephant has her mouth and trunk in the water--- perhaps trying to find some relief from the pain. The forest official who posted the picture and narrated the elephant's story said that "she had a sixth sense that she was going to die". Forest officials tried to help her, two elephants were brought to lead her out of the river but nothing worked and the injured elephant died on May 27. And that's not it, the autopsy report revealed that the elephant was pregnant. The baby was murdered along with its mother. It is animal cruelty at its worst and inhuman. Reports say the elephant meandered into the village in search of food. She was pregnant and her desperation drove her out of her habitat. Animals do not enjoy walking into villages or destroying farms leave alone entering a city packed with humans, cars and pollution. From the leopards in Mumbai's Borivali to the tigers in Sunderbans or this pregnant elephant. It is the same story. Humans encroach into their territory drive them out of the wild that results in killing them when they come looking for food or capturing them and putting them in zoos. Reports claim that pineapples laden with explosives are a common practice in Kerala. They are used by locals to protect their field from wild boars. Now an FIR has been lodged. There should be exemplary punishment. When humans show cruelty we call them animals. The fact is humans are the only animals who have proven to be capable of such cruelty.

Elephant killed after being fed with pineapple stuffed with crackers

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/four-sri-lankan-elephants-found-dead-of-suspected-poisoning-252438">Sri Lanka </a>announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers.

Wildlife and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said he will impose tougher sanctions on offenders to boost laws enacted three years ago but not yet implemented due to administrative delays.

Elephants are a protected animal in the South Asian island nation and the new rules will increase the length of jail time and amount of fines for those found to have been cruel to the beasts.

Authorities will also be given wider powers to investigate offenders, Amaratunga said, though no further details were released.

Investigations into the deaths of seven elephants at a forest reserve in central Sri Lanka showed the animals had ingested poison, but it was not yet clear if they were murdered.

"The deaths were caused by poison, but we are still trying to establish if it was a deliberate act (of villagers)," Amaratunga said.

"We have found that many elephant corridors in wildlife reserves have been encroached by farmers. This has led to an increase in the human-elephant conflict."

Autopsies have been conducted on the elephants, which included six cows, but a final report had not yet been released, he said.

Amaratunga added that 293 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-probes-elephant-cruelty-at-buddhist-parade-243423">elephants</a> were murdered in the first nine months of this year, while 93 people were killed by wild elephants straying into villages near wildlife sanctuaries.

Last year, 319 elephants were murdered while 96 people were killed by elephants, official data showed.

Amaratunga said the government will also set up a 500-acre (202 hectares) sanctuary to home 47 tamed elephants seized from owners who did not have licences to own them.

The owners are being prosecuted for stealing the elephants from national wildlife parks over the last decade and keeping them as pets. Capturing wild elephants is illegal.

Many rich Sri Lankans keep elephants as pets to show off their wealth, but there have been numerous complaints of ill treatment and cruelty.

Sri Lanka announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers.

Sri Lanka announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers. Wildlife and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said he will impose tougher sanctions on offenders to boost laws enacted three years ago but not yet implemented due to administrative delays. Elephants are a protected animal in the South Asian island nation and the new rules will increase the length of jail time and amount of fines for those found to have been cruel to the beasts. Authorities will also be given wider powers to investigate offenders, Amaratunga said, though no further details were released. Investigations into the deaths of seven elephants at a forest reserve in central Sri Lanka showed the animals had ingested poison, but it was not yet clear if they were murdered. "The deaths were caused by poison, but we are still trying to establish if it was a deliberate act (of villagers)," Amaratunga said. "We have found that many elephant corridors in wildlife reserves have been encroached by farmers. This has led to an increase in the human-elephant conflict." Autopsies have been conducted on the elephants, which included six cows, but a final report had not yet been released, he said. Amaratunga added that 293 elephants were murdered in the first nine months of this year, while 93 people were killed by wild elephants straying into villages near wildlife sanctuaries. Last year, 319 elephants were murdered while 96 people were killed by elephants, official data showed. Amaratunga said the government will also set up a 500-acre (202 hectares) sanctuary to home 47 tamed elephants seized from owners who did not have licences to own them. The owners are being prosecuted for stealing the elephants from national wildlife parks over the last decade and keeping them as pets. Capturing wild elephants is illegal. Many rich Sri Lankans keep elephants as pets to show off their wealth, but there have been numerous complaints of ill treatment and cruelty.

Tougher penalties to protect Sri Lanka elephants after mass deaths

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Elephant in South Africa zoo released into the wild after 40 years of captivity

Elephant killed after being fed with pineapple stuffed with crackers

Tougher penalties to protect Sri Lanka elephants after mass deaths