Fury is rising in Pretoria and Johannesburg over the quiet removal of elephants from city zoos – animals that for decades symbolised wildlife heritage for ordinary South Africans who could not afford national park trips.
The latest flashpoint came when Charley, Pretoria Zoo’s last elephant bull and a star attraction for more than 20 years, was transferred to the elite Shambala Game Reserve in Limpopo.
The move, approved by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), has sparked outrage from Tshwane residents who accuse authorities of “robbing the poor to benefit the rich.”
“We came for the elephant bull Charley, but it’s so sad to find out that it’s gone,” said Ms. Nkomi Moukangwe from Soshanguve.
“It’s not fair to remove him without our knowledge or consent. We just want to see elephants, not monkeys, we see every day.”
An Elite Transfer
SANBI spokesperson Nontsikelelo Mpulo confirmed Charley’s relocation after “a call for expressions of interest about providing a retirement home.”
The winning bid came from the EMS Foundation and the Steyn family’s Shambala Private Game Reserve, a venue widely seen as accessible only to South Africa’s wealthy elite.
Zoo staff fear the move is driven less by animal welfare and more by prestige.
“That elephant is likely going to attract tourists based on its history,” said one official.
For ordinary families, however, Charley was more than an exhibit—he was often the only elephant their children ever saw in real life.
Families in Pain
At the zoo, disappointment was palpable. Boitumelo Moukangwe, who brought her two-year-old son for his birthday, left heartbroken.
“My son doesn’t even know what an elephant looks like in real life. Now he only sees them on TV,” she said.
“Replacing Charley is not a luxury but a necessity. We cannot afford Kruger trips. That’s why zoos exist.”
Residents accuse SANBI of betrayal, warning that elephants may just be the beginning.
“Today it’s elephants, tomorrow giraffes, then hippos,” said Boitumelo.
“Soon there will be no zoo animals left.”
Community petitions and protests are already being organised.
Johannesburg Next?
Charley’s removal is not an isolated case. Johannesburg Zoo faces legal pressure from the EMS Foundation to release its three elephants, with surprising backing from Harvard Law School as “friends of the court.”
A Johannesburg Zoo official confirmed the looming September hearing but warned of dire consequences:
“Not every African child can afford Kruger. Here we host non-fee-paying schools, giving children their first – and often only – chance to see elephants. Every African child deserves to see their heritage animal.”
The official accused foreign NGOs of turning elephants into “fundraising machines,” citing the controversial 2023 removal of Thandora from Bloemfontein Zoo.
Public Pushback
Johannesburg residents share Pretoria’s anger.
“It would be a sad day for Johannesburg if the three elephants are taken away,” said Walter Middleton.
“My grandchildren love them. There is no need to remove them.”
Others bristled at American involvement.
“How can Harvard lawyers, sitting in America, dictate what South African children should or shouldn’t see?” asked one visitor.
“This is our heritage, not theirs.”
The Bigger Battle
For locals, the fight is not about elephant welfare alone – it is about access and inequality. While elites and foreign partners celebrate “rescues,” ordinary South Africans feel cut off from the very animals that symbolise their natural heritage.
As protests and petitions gather steam, the removal of Charley may become a rallying cry for broader frustrations over elitism, inequality, and foreign interference in South Africa’s conservation policies.
By Emmanuel Koro, AfricaBrief