Mali, the elephant renowned by activists as one of the world’s most forlorn, has died at Manila Zoo, where she spent nearly four decades living alone in a pen. Tributes are pouring in for Mali, the star attraction of Manila Zoo, although her solitary existence had long been a concern for animal rights advocates.
The news of Mali’s passing was conveyed in a Facebook video by Manila mayor Honey Lacuna, who fondly recalled her childhood visits to the zoo to see Mali as among her happiest memories.
Sir Paul McCartney, a vocal animal rights supporter, had previously urged authorities to transfer Mali to an elephant sanctuary. The Asian elephant’s declining health became evident last Friday when she was observed repeatedly rubbing her trunk against a wall, indicating distress, according to Dr. Heinrich Patrick Peña-Domingo, the zoo’s chief veterinarian.
By Tuesday, Mali was lying on her side and breathing heavily. Despite veterinary efforts with antihistamines and vitamins, she succumbed later that afternoon. An autopsy revealed cancer in some organs and a blockage in her aorta.
Mali, originally named Vishwa Ma’ali, was gifted to former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos by the Sri Lankan government in 1981 at the age of 11 months. Manila Zoo, where Mali lived since then, was also home to another elephant, Shiva, who arrived in 1977 and passed away in 1990.
Criticism from animal rights activists focused on the zoo’s conditions and its purported lack of capability to provide adequate medical care for Mali. The zoo argued that Mali, having never experienced the wild, was best kept in captivity.
In 2012, Sir Paul McCartney wrote to then-President Benigno Aquino III, describing footage of Mali in captivity as “heartbreaking” and urging her transfer to a sanctuary in Thailand. Despite appeals from other celebrities like Morrissey, Mali remained at Manila Zoo.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) expressed condolences, calling Mali “one of the world’s saddest elephants” and advocating for an end to the confinement of elephants in zoos.
Filipinos, across different generations, shared memories of school field trips to see Mali, lamenting her lonely existence and expressing hope that no more elephants would be confined to zoos. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna announced her intention to request the Sri Lankan government to donate another elephant to the Philippine capital. Despite Mali’s solitude, Lacuna emphasized her presence in the lives of those who visited Manila Zoo, stating, “She was the face that greeted everyone who visited Manila Zoo. She is a part of our lives.”
Source – BBC
