Manila Zoo to replace Mali with new elephants from Sri Lanka

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 29) — The city government of Manila on Wednesday said it will request for new elephants from Sri Lanka to replace Vishwa Ma'ali, also known as Mali, who died possibly due to heart problem, pancreatic cancer, and multiple organ failure.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the Sri Lankan government earlier committed to former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno that it will give new elephants to the Philippines as a replacement for Mali, who died on Tuesday.

"Ngayon po sisimulan po namin ang pakikipag-usap ulit with the Sri Lankan government, kami po ay susulat ng pormal sa kanila to inform them na wala na nga po si Mali, at the same time, maka-request po kami sa kanila ng replacement po. Sorry pangit pakinggan, 'yung papalit po kay Mali," Lacuna said during a press briefing.

[Translation: We will be reaching out to the Sri Lankan government to inform them about the death of Mali, at the same time, we will also be requesting a replacement. Sorry if it doesn't sound good, but it will be a replacement for Mali.]

Dr. Heinrich Pena-Domingo, a senior veterinarian of Manila Zoo, announced the results of the necropsy conducted on Mali. The Asian female elephant showed signs of weakness only last week, officials said.

"Sa necropsy findings, nakita po namin, unang bumungad po sa amin 'yung pancreas, neoplastic, meaning matigas po siya at parang meron na po siyang cancer dahil sa age niya," Domingo said. "As we go on, nakita po namin 'yung mga nodules around the liver, pero yung liver naman po wala naman problema. 'Yung kidney niya slightly inflamed, possible dahil masyado malaki, kaya po parang may pressure, balot po ito ng taba."

[Translation: Based on the necropsy findings, we've first seen the neoplastic pancreas, which means that she may have had cancer due to her age. As we inspected, we also saw nodules around the liver, but her liver had no problem. Her kidney was slightly inflamed. That is why there might be pressure because of concentrated fats.]

"At the same time, nakita po namin 'yung aorta, yung tubo palabas ng kanyang puso, ito po ay may makapal na taba na nakabara," he also said. "Maaari po na ito ang cause ng pagkamatay niya, itong congestive heart failure."

[Translation: At the same time, we saw in the aorta thick fats that became a blockage. This may have caused her death, this congestive heart failure.]

Domingo noted that the lifespan of Asian elephants is usually from 40 to 45 years old.

The Manila Zoo authorities also clarified that Mali was given to the Philippines by Sri Lanka when she was 11 months old on May 14, 1981, which means she was 43 years old.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said that Mali used to have a companion named Shiva, the elephant that was given in 1977 but who eventually died in 1990.

Lacuna said past documents from previous administrations proved that Mali was given in 1981.

Preserving Mali's memory

The mayor said they are considering preserving the bones of Mali to display in a museum.

"Alam niyo naman po prized possession po namin si Mali, siya po talaga ay isa sa mga or the star attraction po dito sa Manila Zoo," the mayor said. "Nagsisimula na po kami ng talks with the experts kung papaano po magagawa na ma-preserve yung bones niya at mailagay po natin sa museum natin."

[Translation: We all know that Mali is our prized possession. She is one of the star attractions here in Manila Zoo. We have talked to experts on how we can preserve her bones to put them in a museum.]

Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia said in a statement on Wednesday that they have long before pleaded to put Mali in a proper sanctuary, where it said Mali could have enjoyed the company of other elephants.

"Instead, the Manila Zoo and the city of Manila sentenced Mali to decades of solitary confinement, torture for female elephants, who in nature spend their lives among their mothers and sisters, protecting one another and raising each other's calves and now she has lost any chance of happiness," PETA stated.

"Despite PETA's repeated warnings, zoo and city officials ignored Mali's clearly painful foot problems, the leading cause of death in captive elephants and if they caused her death, too, every person who denied her veterinary care and blocked her transfer to a sanctuary should be held accountable," it concluded.

CNN Philippines correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this story.