Can you imagine a day without seeing a human being? No, we can’t even imagine an hour!!
But an elephant hasn’t seen another elephant in over three decades. Mali, the elephant is locked away in a tiny little enclosure in the Manila zoo.
Mali is 40 years old. She was captured from the wild as a baby in Sri Lanka. Since then Mali has been living in unfit conditions in an enclosure resembling a concrete pit since 1977.
In her concrete enclosure, Mali has not felt grass underneath her
feet for 38 years. Without a soft ground to alleviate pressure which resulted in severe foot problems. Foot issues are the leading cause of death among elephants living in captivity.
Elephants in the wild spend almost 20 hours in a day moving about and grazing but this one hardly has any place to move or any freedom.
Mali has also been denied proper veterinary care all these years.
Even proper preventive blood care and basic blood work which is offered by every reputable zoo, has been denied to poor Mali.
The former Philippines President
Benigno Aquino III has received a personal letter from world-renowned animal conservation expert Dr. Jane Goodall. Goodall wrote to the president to support his directive that orders that Mali —the lone elephant suffering without veterinary care at the Manila Zoo—be reviewed and considered for transfer to a sanctuary. In the letter, Goodall emphasizes the importance of transferring Mali as soon as possible so that she can finally receive proper veterinary care and enjoy the companionship of other elephants.
Dr. Henry Richardson, an
elephant expert who was flown to manila at PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)expense, determined that Mali suffers from potentially fatal cracked nails and foot pads which are open to infection and overgrown cuticles. Ever since PETA reportedly approached the zoo with these concerns, it has prevented these concerns, it has prevented elephant experts any access to Mali.
In the wild, or with a large range of freedom and natural conditions, Asian elephants can live up to 60 and 70 years. Zoo animals in captivity, however rarely live passed the age of 20 due to stress and health issues from diet, lack of exercise and physical ailments.
The 500 acre Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) in Thailand has already agreed to accept Mali in her retirement. BLES strives to rescue
and protect the elephants of Thailand from abuse and extinction.
In another plea for Mali’s freedom, PETA has volunteered to cover all expenses related to her transport and preparation for the journey to the Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand. PETA has started their campaign to save Mali. The article reveals that PETA has collected millions using Mali as their fundraising poster child and not one cent has gone to help give Mali a better life.
Mali needs grass to cushion her aching joints, room to move and not a cramped cage. She needs the company of other Elephants for her emotional health. She hasn’t seen any Elephant in more than 30 years.
Nearly 40years of loneliness!! enough and more! Free Mali! Save Mali!
