Manila government to work with company that offered to preserve Mali for free
The government of Manila is eyeing to hire a company that offered to preserve the remains of Manila Zoo's beloved Asian elephant Mali for free.
According to Draft Resolution 7925 filed by Manila District 3 Councilor Ernesto Isip Jr., Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan has been authorized to "enter into a contract of service between the City of Manila and Pet Preservation Taxidermy Service (PetEternity)" to preserve Mali who passed away last year.
The document detailed that the company would preserve the Philippines' lone elephant "in accordance with industry standards and best practices" and that the taxidermy should be completed within "six to eight months or depending on the size of Mali."
Afterward, her remains would be displayed at the Manila Zoo, where she served as the main attraction before her death.
The draft ordinance was approved by 21 out of the 38 councilors present during the session of the city council last Jan. 25.
In December last year, Manila District 6 Councilor Salvador Philip Lacuna revealed that they were planning to have Mali's remains preserved through taxidermy or the process of stuffing dead animals with special material for display or study.
The treasured elephant passed away on Nov. 28 last year due to congestive heart failure, which affected other organs of her body based on necropsy findings. She also suffered from cancer.
There was no public wake for the remains of Mali to avoid "sensualizing" the incident.
The nearly 50-year-old mammal was first welcomed into the world in Sri Lanka in 1974 and has been a resident at the zoo starting in 1981. Asian elephants typically have a lifespan of around 60 to 70 years.
In a previous interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Manila Zoo tour guide Alekzssa Mirasol shared that the 50-year-old mammal is an important part of Philippine history as she was gifted by the government of Sri Lanka to former first lady Imelda Marcos and became the first elephant to walk the grounds of the Malacañang Palace.
Lacuna has since bared their plans to send a replacement for Mali to Manila Zoo following her passing.
"Yung Sri Lankan government po, na kung sino rin 'yung nagbigay sa atin kay Mali, during one of their visits here, nag-commit po sila na magbibigay po ulit sila. Ngayon po, iinform po namin sila, makikipag-communicate po kami sa kanila to inform them na wala na po si Mali and then para po 'yung offer po nila sa amin ay magpush through na po," Lacuna shared. (with reports from Ghio Ong)