Philippines: World's 'saddest' elephant dies in Manila zoo

Mali, an elephant dubbed as one of the world's 'saddest', has died at a zoo in the Philippines. She spent the majority of her life in solitude within a confined space. Mali was a major attraction at Manila Zoo for four decades and was deeply cherished. However, her solitary existence was a source of concern for animal rights activists. One such activist was Sir Paul McCartney, who appealed to the authorities to relocate Mali to an elephant sanctuary.

The news of Mali's death was announced on Facebook by Manila's mayor, Honey Lacuna. She reminisced that her visits to the zoo to see Mali were among her most joyful childhood memories. Last Friday, Mali was observed constantly rubbing her trunk against a wall, a behavior indicating discomfort, according to the zoo's chief veterinarian, Dr Heinrich Patrick Peña-Domingo. By Tuesday, Mali was found lying on her side, breathing heavily. Despite administering antihistamines and vitamins, she passed away later that afternoon. An autopsy revealed that she had cancer in several organs and a blockage in her aorta.

Mali, whose full name is Vishwa Ma'ali, was a gift to former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos from the Sri Lankan government in 1981 when she was just 11 months old. Manila Zoo was also home to another elephant, Shiva, who arrived in 1977 and died in 1990. Since then, Mali had been the zoo's sole elephant. At the height of the pandemic, the Manila Zoo also served as a vaccination site for children, with Mali providing entertainment. Animal rights activists criticized the dilapidated conditions at Manila Zoo and claimed that its keepers were ill-equipped to provide Mali with adequate medical care. However, zoo authorities contended that captivity was the best option for Mali as she was unfamiliar with life in the wild.