When I first saw Bunka in early 2021 in Yerevan Zoo in Armenia, I felt immediately the sense of despair and helplessness of a lonely elephant. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As zoos across the world surrender their elephants to sanctuaries due to the increasing understanding that they suffer psychological and physical harm in captivity, options exist for a better life for Bunka, in sanctuary. Both myself and Tina, who are fronting this campaign, have experienced some of these sanctuaries and also observed elephants free in the wild. There are very few options for returning Asian elephants to the wild at present but sanctuaries exist both on that continent and in Europe. With greater space to roam in, water to bathe in, the chance to scratch against trees, eat when he feels hungry, and ultimately, the companionship of his own kind, Bunka could live something approximating to a more normal life. He may never be truly free but he could be happy and content with his life. This is our vision for Bunka.

Mark Stratton & Tina Papadopoulou June 2022