Cheyenne Suarez

Elephant Ma’ali immortalized in Museum of Natural History through taxidermy

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1787908212083mali.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Photos courtesy of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila"/>Photos courtesy of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila </div><div> </div>MANILA — Vishwa Ma’ali, Manila Zoo’s main attraction until 2023, can once again be visited by families this time at the Museum of Natural History.The elephant, which was gifted by the Sri Lankan government to former First Lady Imelda Marcos in the 1970s, was raised in captivity until succumbing to congestive heart failure in November 2023.Three years later, Ma’ali returns to Manila after undergoing taxidermy — a process of preserving, stuffing and mounting the skin of dead animals so that they look alive.In a video posted on Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s social media, he said that displaying Ma’ali in the Museum of Natural History would greatly benefit students.“Malaking bagay ito sa aming mga bata ngayon. Nasa maayos na pangagnalaga ang ating minamahal na si Ma’ali. Ma’ali is now in good hands,” Moreno said.Once dubbed as the “world’s saddest elephant” by animal welfare advocates, Ma’ali lived in an enclosure considered too small for her size within the Manila Zoo. At the time of her death, former Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said Ma’ali was received by the local government when she was just 11 months old. She died at the age of 43.Despite the local government’s enthusiasm over Ma’ali’s taxidermied remains, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal’s Asia said this is not a thing to celebrate.“There are many things to celebrate about Manila, but Mali&#x27;s confinement and death are not among them. Had the government not blocked her transfer, Mali could have lived out her days in a sanctuary, bonding with other elephants and getting the care she desperately needed,” said PETA Asia President Jason Baker.Baker added that Ma’ali’s preserved remains “serve as a stark reminder that no elephant should be forced to suffer as she did.”“PETA urges everyone to honor Ma&#x27;li’s memory by avoiding the Manila Zoo and any other zoo as if more lives depended on it, because they do,” PETA Asia said.But for those who want a glimpse of Ma&#x27;li, the National Museum of Natural History is open from 9am-6pm daily. Admission is free. Apart from Ma&#x27;li, the museum also houses the taxidermied remains of Lolong, said to be the world&#x27;s largest saltwater crocodile.

Vishwa Ma’ali, Manila Zoo’s main attraction until 2023, can once again be visited by families this time at the Museum of Natural History.

Vishwa Ma’ali, Manila Zoo’s main attraction until 2023, can once again be visited by families this time at the Museum of Natural History.