Donations

Meet Lanka – the elephant who lives in the Safari Park of Brijuni National Park. Her daily routine is carefully designed, and each day she reminds us how important it is to care for animals with love and respect.

Lanka’s Arrival on Brijuni

Lanka is an Indian elephant who arrived on Brijuni in 1974 as a gift from Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She has become one of the most beloved residents of the Safari Park, part of Brijuni National Park, where she lives together with numerous native and exotic animals – zebras, llamas, sacred Indian cows, and ostriches.

Elephants, those wondrous and admirable beings, are the largest land mammals alive today. Over the last 2–3 thousand years, their natural habitats have been shrinking continuously, and these magnificent animals are now classified as "highly endangered."

The Safari Park covers 9 hectares on the northern edge of Veliki Brijun and is a place where flora, fauna, and human care coexist in harmony. Here, in a natural setting, Lanka enjoys her daily activities, which include meals, training, play, and enrichment – all aimed at preserving her physical and mental well-being.

Safari Park

On the northern edge of Veliki Brijun, there is a nine-hectare unique Safari Park, where native Istrian fauna meets exotic species from South America, Africa, and Asia. This park is not just a place to observe animals – it is a living corner of nature where flora, fauna, and human care coexist in harmony.

Among the park’s most beloved residents is the elephant Lanka. She was a gift to the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito from Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Indian elephant not only attracts visitors with her size and gentleness but also symbolizes the attention and dedication the park provides to all its animals. Her presence unites exotic and native species in a unique harmony, showing how care, knowledge, and love for animals can create a safe and stimulating environment. The Safari Park is not only a space for animals – it is also a place of learning and inspiration for visitors. Watching Lanka explore, play, and interact with her keepers reveals the true connection between humans and animals. Every animal in the park, from llamas to zebras, contributes to this story of coexistence, while Lanka remains a symbol of that special bond.

There are also llamas, South American camelids that, according to indigenous legends, have accompanied humans since the earliest days of civilization. Zebras, sacred Indian cows, and ostriches further enrich the park’s diverse wildlife and enchant visitors with their presence.

The Safari Park is not only a space for animal play and recreation – it is an environment where natural behaviors are encouraged through habitat enrichment, carefully planned routines, and constant caretaker attention. Visitors can experience encounters with exotic and native species in surroundings that resemble their natural habitats, providing education, inspiration, and emotion to everyone who steps into this little paradise on Brijuni.

Daily Routine

Morning and Breakfast

The day begins with a breakfast of vegetables and hay. Afterwards, Lanka meets her keepers – trained park staff – who begin the day’s activities with her.

Training and Veterinary Care

Training is highly beneficial for Lanka: it mobilizes her joints, strengthens her interaction with humans, helps her learn commands, and prepares her for veterinary procedures, making them as painless and stress-free as possible. Commands such as “come,” “back,” and “across,” along with various head and leg movements, are part of this program.

Lunch and Stimulating Natural Behaviors

Lanka’s lunch is not served in a simple way – food is distributed around the enclosure so she must search for it, stimulating her natural curiosity and activity. Afterwards, she receives hay or straw placed in a net, which slows down feeding and encourages her to use her trunk and reach for food, mimicking what she would do in the wild.

Play, Enrichment, and Well-being

Afternoons bring enrichment activities: toys, items such as buoys, tires, balls, and even branches for browsing. In summer, sprinklers and bathing opportunities keep her refreshed, while in winter she enjoys the comfort of a heated shelter. All of this ensures that Lanka enjoys a quality life, whether the sun is shining or the weather is cold.

Night Shelter

Before sunset, Lanka is led into her winter shelter – a warm and safe space where she can spend the night, especially when outside temperatures are low. In her shelter, she often finds treats, such as bran, which are among her favorites.

Why Lanka Matters

Lanka is a symbol of the caring relationship between humans and animals – proof that even the largest mammals can live a dignified and fulfilling life in human care, provided they are given maximum attention and respect.

Her daily routine shows us the importance of education, constant veterinary care, social and mental stimulation, and the creation of conditions that resemble nature as closely as possible.

Visiting Lanka means witnessing this union of responsibility, knowledge, and empathy – and being reminded of how important it is to care for all living beings entrusted to us.

Call for Support and Gratitude

This way of life and care requires not only financial resources but also knowledge, effort, and dedication. Every donation, large or small, every sign of support, helps ensure that Lanka and her keepers have everything they need for a safe, healthy, and happy life.

We sincerely thank all who have already supported Lanka – your help has made possible her daily meals, joyful games, veterinary care, and enrichment activities that keep her happy and active. Your support truly makes a difference in her life and in the life of the entire Safari Park.

If you have not yet become part of Lanka’s story, now is the right time. Every donation is a chance to become a co-creator of this special bond between humans and animals, to experience the joy of watching her curiosity, playfulness, and gentleness, and to help preserve this unique corner of nature. Be part of Lanka’s story – together we can make her world brighter, safer, and full of joy.

Every donation is an opportunity to become a co-creator of the special bond between humans and animals, to feel the joy of witnessing her curiosity, playfulness, and gentleness, and to help preserve this unique corner of nature.

DONATE FOR LANKA