While France has officially committed to phasing out wild animals in circuses by 2028, a deeply troubling decision has just been made. Samba, the last remaining elephant in a French circus, has been shipped to Hungary not to a sanctuary where she could finally live in peace, but to a so-called "safari park" that operates as a thinly veiled circus: Richter Safari Park.
This is not a rescue. It is a betrayal.
Samba’s story began in the wilds of Kenya. Captured as a baby, she was torn from her herd and shipped to Europe. For nearly four decades, she was held in chains and forced to perform for human entertainment, living under the control of the Aucante family’s Continental Circus.
Over the years, her suffering has been documented in heartbreaking detail. In one infamous act, she was made to "play dead" to the sound of gunfire. When she refused in 2003, she was beaten in front of children. Complaints and legal actions followed, but nothing changed. Her pain was ignored, her captivity continued.
In 2013, Samba tried to escape. During her desperate bid for freedom, a tragic accident occurred. Rather than prompting intervention or compassion, she was dragged back to the circus. Her handler, despite years of reported abuse, walked free.
Animal protection groups have spent years offering Samba a second chance. A fully-funded place in an elephant sanctuary, with ample space, expert care, and the companionship of other elephants, has been waiting for her. Her relocation could have marked a historic turning point the start of her healing.
Instead, she was quietly transferred out of the country, into another cage. The Richter Safari Park may claim to be a "sanctuary," but its practices speak louder than its name: performances, public interactions, and exploitation continue.
How can this happen just three years before France’s ban takes effect? How can a country that has outlawed wild animals in circuses still export its elephants to foreign shows?
Even more alarming, the French government continues to support circus industries offering financial aid and considering the importation of elephants from abroad. Is this reform, or simply outsourcing cruelty?
Samba is not a prop. She is a sentient, intelligent creature who has endured a life of violence and confinement. Her suffering should have ended not been shipped across borders.
We urge the French authorities to investigate the circumstances of this transfer, to stop the ongoing exploitation of Samba, and to work with ethical sanctuaries ready to welcome her.
Join us in calling for Samba’s freedom. Add your name to demand a future where no elephant is forced to perform, and no life is sold behind closed doors.
Sign and share this petition. Let’s bring Samba home to peace, to safety, to dignity.
This is not an isolated case. In the video below, you can witness four elephants including Samba enduring the same daily suffering, condemned to a life of captivity and exploitation. Their reality is a tragic reflection of what countless wild animals still face across Europe, despite growing awareness and legal progress.
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