Sanctuary for ex-circus elephants

Animal rights groups say they will establish Europe’s first sanctuary for former circus elephants.

World Animal Protection and Elephant Haven say the sanctuary, in France, will be operational by autumn. The project came about after lobbying by the Danish Parliament, which recently announced its commitment to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

14 other European countries have recently implemented similar bans. Tony Verhulst of Elephant Haven said: “There is no place for elephants to retire in Europe and we are so pleased that we are giving them a safe haven.”