THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST “FREE MALI”
Supporters of the Manila Zoo openly voiced out their concerns against freeing Mali from the zoo. Ashley addressed these concerns.
ARGUMENT:
MALI’S BLOOD TESTS SHOW THAT SHE IS HEALTHY FOR HER AGE. DR. THONGTIP, AN ELEPHANT EXPERT FROM THAILAND, SAID MALI WAS IN THE “PINK OF HEALTH.” Ashley: “Dr. Thongtip’s area of specialization is in theriogenology, and the only journals and academic studies that he has participated in focus on artificial insemination and reproduction of elephants. He is not qualified to assess Mali’s health, in particular her foot problems.
“…Dr. Thongtip also commented that a more thorough examination must be performed before her transfer is decided on, not that she shouldn’t go at all.”
ARGUMENT: MALI IS A SENIOR ELEPHANT. SHE WILL NOT SURVIVE THE TRAVEL AND LENGTHY QUARANTINE REQUIRED.
Ashley: “Around the world every year, elephants are successfully transported from zoo to zoo, from location to location by circuses, and from zoos to sanctuaries by truck, plane, and train. Transporting elephants is a common practice.
“…Many elephants who are transferred to sanctuaries have histories similar to Mali’s, but sanctuary caregivers find that these intelligent animals are highly adaptable and welcome new situations, especially those that greatly improve their welfare, as moving Mali would. To suggest that we should not give Mali a chance of being happy and healthy in the company of other elephants shows a lack of understanding of the nature of elephants and does a disservice to Mali. PETA has the backing of many international elephant and wildlife experts who are confident that Mali will cope very well in her new environment and that transferring her would be the kindest course of action -- and the right thing to do for her welfare.”
ARGUMENT:
MALI’S LAST YEARS WILL BE SPENT ADJUSTING TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT, AS OPPOSED TO HER LIVING THEM WHERE SHE HAS GROWN COMFORTABLE, WITH THE PEOPLE SHE HAS GROWN TO TRUST.
Ashley: “As Dr. Richardson said, ‘In my experience, even elephants who have been alone for more than 20 years integrate well with other elephants when moved to a sanctuary.’ Here is just one example: Tina, a 33-year-old elephant, spent much of her life alone at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Canada after being sold to the zoo at the age of two. In 2003, after a three-and-a-half day journey to the Elephant Sanctuary in the U.S. state of Tennessee, Tina arrived at her forever home. Although Tina took some time to adjust to her new surroundings, as would all elephants, she made many friends at the sanctuary and was successfully integrated into their herd.
“Her best friend at the sanctuary was Tarra, and the two were almost inseparable. When Tina eventually died at the sanctuary as a result of a heart problem she arrived with (likely a birth defect), two of her other friends, Sissy and Winkie, spent the entire night with her body and stayed at her grave the entire following day. When they finally left, Sissy placed her favorite toy, a tire, on top of Tina’s grave. The staff at the sanctuary are experts in introducing unfamiliar elephants and find that female elephants bond to each other quickly.”