Mali the elephant’s remains are now back at Manila Zoo after being preserved through taxidermy. Dr. Jason Sumaway and his team of veterinarians took 11 months to complete the process, as reported by GMA News. The preserved body arrived at the zoo on December 16.
Mali, originally named Vishwa Ma’ali, was a gift from Sri Lanka to the Philippines in 1981. She died on November 28, 2023, due to congestive heart failure.
For years, animal rights groups and celebrities criticized the conditions in which Mali lived, calling them inhumane. After her death, businessman Christophe Barious criticized the zoo’s decision to display her preserved remains.
“Even after her death, you failed to show Mali the respect she deserved after a lifetime of suffering. Shame on you,” Barious wrote on Instagram. His post was shared by actress Nadine Lustre.
The zoo management has not yet responded to the backlash. The Manila city council approved the taxidermy project with PetEterniTy, which was done free of charge.
