Mali, the elephant known as the “saddest” in the world, has died in a zoo in the Philippines. The mayor of Manila announced the sad news during a press conference. Mali was the only captive elephant in the country and has died at the age of 43.
According to the mayor, Honey Lacuna, Mali was given as a gift from the government of Sri Lanka to the city government of Manila in 1981. People in the Philippines and on social media are sharing tributes to Mali, which has long been a major attraction at the zoo. She spent more than 40 years at the Manila Zoo.
The zoo’s veterinarian reported that Mali died of pancreatic cancer and a blockage in her aorta. Earlier in the week, the vet had indicated that Mali was showing signs of pain, such as repeatedly rubbing her trunk against a wall. Despite treatment with medication, the elephant died shortly afterwards.
Concerns about animal welfare
Mali’s captivity attracted worldwide attention and led to a campaign for her relocation. Animal welfare activists and organizations were concerned about her situation. In 2013, Paul McCartney of The Beatles wrote a letter to then-Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, calling for Mali to be released to a shelter for her health. McCartney stressed the importance of ending Mali’s suffering and praised governments committed to animal welfare.
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