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In an incredible gesture, the government of Denmark has purchased the country’s last circus elephants in order to ensure that they enjoy a proper retirement.
While the four elephants—Ramboline, Djunga, Lara and Jenny—are now government property, they are sure to enjoy comfortable homes for their remaining years.
The country’s Ministry of Environment and Food has paid the two circuses 11 million Danish krone—equivalent to $1.6 million USD—for the creatures, according to the BBC.
The elephants’ future had been up in the air due to an impending ban on wild animals in circuses that the Danish government will be rolling out this year
The elephants will be taken care of by animal rights group Dyrenes Beskyttelse (Animal Protection Denmark) until the state finds a facility that can treat the former captives with “the highest level of welfare,” reports the Copenhagen Post.
Government of #Denmark to propose ALL wild animal #circusban. Currently elephants, zebras & sea lions are still permitted. It will also buy the country’s 4 remaining circus elephants, including Ramboline pictured, who will likely be relocated to a zoo. pic.twitter.com/Od5PfAr3JZ
— ADI (@AnimalDefenders) September 5, 2019
Some taxpayers have been peeved by the final price tag of the four elephants, however, which was reportedly far higher than the initial government offer.
The elephants will be moved in four to eight months to their permanent facility and Benny Berdino, the manager of Circus Arena and former owner of three of the elephants, hopes that the elephants can soon “enjoy their retirement.”
