Progress so far

The campaign to highlight Bunka’s plight started in 2021, although elephant welfare bodies, such as Born Free, had previously highlighted his lone status and inadequate conditions to Yerevan Zoo and city officials.

Previous attempts to contact the authorities have been met with silence.

We recognise the significant geopolitical pressures for humans and non-humans alike in the region. We also recognise that Bunka is one of hundreds elephants languishing in zoos and worse around the world.

We cannot change the world for all elephants but we can be part of the tide that shifts attitudes one elephant at a time.

It is our hope that a country like Armenia that has already made tremendous progress in areas such as bear conservation will lead the way for showing compassion towards their only elephant and be at the vanguard of helping end his misery in zoo captivity.

 

  • Europe has only one elephant sanctuary which in its present set up can support up to 3 female Asian elephants. It would be possible to expand the construction to accommodate a male Asian elephant

  • Friends of Bunka contacted the newly appointed Yerevan zoo director and offered expertise and assistance with finding a suitable solution for Bunka’s welfare

  • Letter signed by members of PREN inviting the mayor Yerevan to engage with the group and discuss suitable options for Bunka’s future that would be compatible with his biological, psychological and social needs