Elephant‑sanctuary as conservation infrastructure

Large‑scale sanctuaries for formerly captive elephants (here: Pangea’s 402 ha site in Portugal for ~30 animals) create a new institutional category between zoo, reserve, and welfare charity: they require long‑term water and land management, cross‑border animal transfer rules, sustainable financing (tourism/philanthropy/state), and veterinary/regulatory frameworks. If financially and ecologically viable, the model could be replicated across Europe and force harmonization of exotic‑animal regulations and transport protocols. — This reframes exotic‑animal welfare as a place‑based infrastructure and policy problem — implicating land use, cross‑national regulation, public funding, and rural economic impacts rather than only zoo ethics.