Help Free Bunka the elephant from a life of loneliness in Yerevan Zoo

Help Free Bunka the elephant from a life of loneliness in Yerevan Zoo

Started
27 May 2022
Signatures: 84,374Next Goal: 150,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by MARK Stratton

Bunka in miserable captivity at Yerevan Zoo

Who is Bunka? In February during a visit to Yerevan, in Armenia, I visited the city's zoo after hearing about a solitary captive elephant. Bunka is a young male adult 15years old who has been in solitary confinement now for over seven years since being separated from his mother in Tbilisi Zoo. He is alone with nowhere to go, and nothing to do. Looking into his listless eyes he seemed to beg for a better life.

Bunka's misery When I first saw him there was snow on the ground. It was freezing cold. Couped up inside his dark barn -  the door closed, he paced endlessly around in circles: indicative he was exhibiting stereotypical behaviour brought on by the psychological stress of loneliness and confinement. I returned the following week and the sun was out. He was outside but lethargic and disinterested. Numerous scientific evidence confirms zoo captivity leads these highly intelligent animals to endure mental and physical disintegrate, which leads to unpredictable behaviour and premature death. This is a global problem and every lone elephant in captivity in whatever country deserves to be heard.

Our vision for Bunka With a fellow elephant enthusiast, we formed Friends of Bunka with the aim of persuading Yerevan Zoo to release Bunka and free him to a sanctuary where he will enjoy space and companionship. All over the world, zoos are giving up their elephants to sanctuaries where they may live better lives. We sent a letter from a collective of experts (PREN) on elephants to Yerevan Zoo and have made contact with its management. But no change has been enacted to make his miserable life more tolerable. So join us in this petition to help us to campaign to the Armenian authorities to join a growing consensus across the world that elephants do not belong in zoos. #FreeBunka

Please join us to campaign for his freedom and read more about it on our website below

Thank you for your support

Friends of Bunka

Contact us:

Visit us: www.freebunka.com 

Write to: info@yerevanzoo.am, press@yerevanzoo.am, info@yerevan.am, minenv@env.am 

Follow us on social media

Twitter/Instagram: @FreeBunka #FreeBunka

Support now
Signatures: 84,374Next Goal: 150,000
Support now
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