In a somber announcement, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan confirmed the passing of Mali, the Philippines’ only elephant, on Tuesday afternoon. Mali, estimated to be around 50 years old, died at 3:45 p.m. as stated in a Facebook video by the Mayor. The elephant’s body is undergoing necropsy to ascertain the cause of death.
Mali’s journey to the Philippines began when she was only three years old, having been sent from the Sri Lankan government to the Manila Zoo, Southeast Asia’s oldest menagerie, in the 1970s. She was found orphaned in the wild and was subsequently gifted to the Philippines, which then boasted the only zoo in the region.
Over the years, several animal rights groups have advocated for Mali’s release from captivity, emphasizing that wild animals should not live in confined spaces. The local government plans to hold a press conference on Wednesday to provide further details about Mali’s death.