Gundel Restaurant has adopted one of the Budapest Zoo’s most popular residents, Samu, the baby elephant.

A drawing competition had previously been organised to mark this special occasion; the winners’ names were announced today at the official ceremony, and children for whom a visit to the zoo is a real treat were also invited – so that everyone could share in the joy!

This adoption has strengthened an existing relationship: the Gundel Restaurant and the Zoo have been neighbours for over 130 years, and their collaboration has always been excellent. Later, the Gundel Restaurant’s logo featured two elephants, inspired, of course, by the two stone elephants standing at the Zoo’s main entrance.

For Gundel, this sponsorship goes beyond a symbolic gesture: the company has been committed to social responsibility for many years. At the official sponsorship ceremony, together with the Hungarian Special Olympics Association (MSOSZ), the Csalogány Special Needs School in District III, and the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, they hosted children and their carers for whom a visit to the zoo, the delicious Gundel treats and the ceremony were a real treat and a source of joy.

To ensure that even the youngest guests can meet Samu, a soft toy elephant – also named Samu – is waiting for them at Gundel Restaurant. This means that children visiting Gundel can have their photo taken with the mascot and get to know Samu’s friendly nature a little better.
The event was further enlivened by an art competition, to which more than 150 primary school pupils from 23 schools in the 14th district submitted their entries. The children used their imagination to envisage how an elephant might feature in the world of Gundel. The judging panel assessed the entries on the basis of creativity, original ideas and, of course, the inclusion of elements characteristic of Gundel.

Award Winners:
1st place: János Zöldi – Ferenc Liszt Primary School
2nd place: Sára Fogarasi – Városliget Hungarian–English Bilingual School
3rd place: Nimród Nick-Vékony – Alfréd Hajós Primary School
Special Prize: Kincső Natália Mónus – EGYMI School for Children with Physical Disabilities

Gundel and the Zoo both believe that the strength of a community lies in sharing life-changing moments together — whether it’s a meal together, a walk in the zoo or even adopting a baby elephant.