Elephant Caregiver

Are you experienced with elephants or large exotic animals, and passionate about welfare-based care? Join us as a founding Elephant Caregiver at Pangea and work at the heart of a team building something special from the ground up.

Location: Pangea Elephant Sanctuary, Alentejo, Portugal
Contract: Full-time, on-site
Salary: €16,000–€26,000 gross/year + statutory bonuses (€24,500–€30,333 total)

Pangea is a large-scale elephant sanctuary and nature reserve, set within over 1,000 acres of natural habitat in Alentejo, Portugal. Our mission is to provide lifelong, high-welfare care to elephants in need.  We work collaboratively with zoos and circuses across Europe that are seeking responsible, compassionate rehoming options for their elephants, ensuring that each transition is handled with care and dignity.

We’re looking for two experienced, compassionate Elephant Caregivers to join our founding team and help deliver world-class care to elephants retired from zoos and circuses.

These are hands-on, non-public-facing roles involving daily husbandry, enrichment, protected contact training, and welfare monitoring — all grounded in patience, respect, and evidence-based practice. You’ll work outdoors in a rural environment with a close-knit, values-driven team.

 Essential Qualifications*:

• 2+ years’ experience working with elephants or large exotic mammals.
• Skills in protected contact, enrichment, and positive reinforcement training.
• Physical fitness and a calm, observant approach.
• Fluency in Portuguese and/or English.

Download the full job description here. Position open until filled.

*Applications will only be considered if they meet the essential qualifications