Buba is one of the main attractions at the Dutch Circus Freiwald, but earlier this week the gentle giant didn't want to perform ... he just wanted to hang out with locals. Buba escaped circus captivity for a brief moment, wandering through a nearby flea market (much to the surprise of shoppers!)

 "Early in the afternoon Buba, the last elephant in a Dutch circus, decided to go for a walk," wrote Wouter Louwerens, who captured a video of Buba's strol

Buba seems to have just been curious about the world outside his circus life ... or perhaps he was lonely. Elephants are highly social animals, and in the wild they live in strong family structures. But Buba lives a life surrounded by humans and loud noises and flashing lights — no wonder he tried to get away for a bit.

More and more circuses are bowing to public outcry and retiring their performing elephants. Forcing elephants to do tricks often requires abusive training and using a bull-hook, a painful tool, to direct them.


Things will soon be changing for Buba, though. The Netherlands recently banned the use of exotic animals in circuses, and that ban goes into effect September 2015.
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