BUKI MAGIC

The Buffalo Zoo has long served as a treasured mainstay in this community, and these days, under the direction of Zoo Director Donna Fernandes, the Parkside attraction is enjoying a wonderful renaissance.

 That being said, the physical plant of the 131 year old WNY attraction is challenged and in need of some major renovations.  One of the most immediate of those needs exists in the Elephant House, where the one and only Buki resides.

 Buki has become a mainstay in our family since last summer, when my grandson participated in a “Give Buki a Bath” zoo promotion.  Since then, every elephant my grandson encounters in books and puzzles is Buki.  Further, there isn’t a day that goes by that Buki isn’t a topic of conversation in my grandson’s world.

On my own, I wouldn’t know about Buki.  Oh sure, I know that there are elephants at the zoo and that there is a treasure elephant house.  Yet it’s my grandson’s fascination with his buddy, Buki, that has encouraged my interest and concern about the latest announcement that the elephant house has to be rebuilt, or else.

So, the fundraising has begun and is evolving in an intriguing manner, wherein Director Fernandes has asked the community to devise their own ideas for ways to help collect funds.

So far, people are pitching car washes, collecting pennies and selling chocolate.  There’s even been a suggestion to teach the elephants how to play symphonic music. 

I don’t know how much money is needed, nor am I interested in getting involved in the debate over whether animals of elephant size should even be kept in a zoo.  What does intrigue me about this story is that so many people in this community are banding together to try and build a new house for Buki…my grandson included.

In a community that more often than not finds ways to split apart, I’d say that’s a pretty remarkable feat….even for an elephant.