By Emmanuel Koro
Johannesburg – 24 August 2025

Residents of Tshwane, formerly Pretoria, are furious over the removal of the city’s last elephant bull, Charley, from the National Zoological Gardens.

For over 20 years, Charley was the zoo’s star, loved by children, families, and tourists. He has now been moved to Shambala Game Reserve in Limpopo, a decision residents call elitist.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), which manages Pretoria Zoo, confirmed the removal.

“Potential host facilities responded to a call for expressions of interest about providing a retirement home for Charley,” said SANBI spokesperson Nontsikelelo Mpulo. “The proposal from the EMS Foundation and Shambala Private Game Reserve was approved.”

Shambala Private Game Reserve, owned by the wealthy Steyn family who run the EMS Foundation, five major South African insurance companies, and other businesses abroad, is only affordable to the rich. Tshwane residents say moving elephant bull Charley there benefits only the privileged few.

“That elephant is likely going to attract tourists based on its history of being taken from the Pretoria Zoo to the elite Shambala Private Game Reserve,” said a zoo official.

Inside the zoo, the absence was felt. Ms Nkomi Moukangwe from Soshanguve said she was devastated.

“We came for the elephant bull Charley, but it’s so sad to find out that it’s gone,” she said. “We came three years ago and saw Charley, but today he’s gone. It’s not fair to remove him without our knowledge or consent. We just want to see all the animals, especially elephants.”

For her, it hurts the poor most.

“It’s a disaster for Tshwane,” she said, vowing to join community protests if someone organises them.

Charley had symbolised wildlife heritage in the capital, giving families who could not afford Kruger trips a rare chance to see an elephant. That chance is now gone.

Another Tshwane resident, Ms Boitumelo Moukangwe, brought her two-year-old son to celebrate his birthday. He left disappointed.

“I was so happy, I thought he would see animals, but there are no elephants,” she said. “My son doesn’t even know what an elephant looks like in real life and only knows it from television. Now I am really sad.”

She insisted Charley must be replaced.

“The replacement of Charley is not a luxury but a necessity for families who can’t afford trips to the Kruger National Park or private game reserves,” she said.

“The residents of Tshwane will all be sad upon finding out about the elephant’s removal. We cannot afford to travel to national parks just to see elephants. That’s why zoos exist. If elephants are gone, what’s left? Monkeys? We see those every day. We want our elephant back.”

Residents accused SANBI of betrayal.

“They must not make decisions from a place of selfishness,” said Boitumelo. “They took Charley to a private game reserve in Limpopo. That is robbing us. Today it’s elephants, tomorrow it will be giraffes, then hippos. Soon, there will be no zoo animals left.”

Protests and petitions are being planned.

“We will sign petitions and we will protest,” vowed Boitumelo. “The elephant must come back.”

The anger is tied to inequality. Poor South Africans once saw Charley for modest zoo fees. Now, residents say, the EMS Foundation profits at Shambala, “accessible only to the wealthy.”

Pretoria’s pain has spread to Johannesburg. Reports say the EMS Foundation has filed legal papers to remove three elephants from Johannesburg Zoo. Harvard Law School has allegedly applied to support the case as “friends of the court.”

A Johannesburg Zoo official confirmed.

“Yes, it’s EMS Foundation again,” said the official. “They have applied for the elephants’ removal from the Johannesburg Zoo. Harvard Law School is supporting them in court. The Johannesburg Zoo lawyers have advised us not to comment until the hearing in September 2025.”

In a telephone interview last week, the EMS Foundation executive director, Michele Pickover, declined to confirm her group’s role in the court case to remove three elephants from the Johannesburg Zoo, the reason for their removal, or their destination.

The Johannesburg Zoo official warned that the move would harm poor children the most.

“Not every African child can afford to visit Kruger National Park,” said the official. “At the Johannesburg Zoo, we host children from non-fee schools, giving them a chance to see elephants, sometimes for the first and only time in their lives. Every African child deserves to see their heritage animal [elephant].”

He accused foreign NGOs of using elephants for profit.

“These groups are using elephants as a fundraising machine,” he said. “They say it’s about animal welfare, but it’s about money.”

He cited the case of Thandora, moved from Bloemfontein Zoo in 2023.
“That is what happens when ideology overrides animal care,” he said.

Johannesburg resident, Mr Walter Middleton refused to remain anonymous on issues of public interest.

“It would be a sad day for Johannesburg if the three elephants were taken away,” he said. “My grandchildren love them. There is no need to remove them from Johannesburg Zoo.”

Another visitor condemned outside interference.

“How can Harvard lawyers, sitting in America, dictate what South African children should or shouldn’t see? This is our heritage, not theirs.”

Many locals allege Charley’s removal was never about welfare. They call it “robbing the poor to benefit the rich.”

• About the writer: Emmanuel Koro is a Johannesburg-based international award-winning environmental journalist who writes independently on environmental and developmental issues.