In a somber turn of events, Mali, the Philippines’ lone elephant who spent four decades in captivity at the Manila Zoo, succumbed to a heart attack and multiple organ failures caused by cancer.
On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Dr. Heinrich Domingo, the veterinarian at Manila Zoo, determined the cause of Mali’s demise through a necropsy, revealing the presence of fats in the elephant’s aorta. This discovery raises concerns about potential blockages restricting blood flow to various parts of Mali’s body. Additionally, inflammation was observed in Mali’s pancreas and kidneys.
Imported from Sri Lanka as a gift to Imelda Marcos in 1977, Mali became a symbol of the Manila Zoo for generations. Her passing marks the end of an era, leaving a void in the hearts of those who admired and cared for her.
Her life-size statue at the Zoo’s entrance is all that remains in her memory now.
(Benjamin Cuaresma/AI/MNM)