In 1981 the Sri Lankan government presented the first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos, with a small female elephant. Mali, who was 11 months old at the time, was taken to the Manila Zoo, where there was another elephant at the time, who died in 1990.

Since then, Mali was the only elephant left in the zoo.

She spent almost 30 years in her concrete space (center photo) and in her solitudewhich had caused concern and reactions from many animal welfare organizations and activists.

Even Sir Paul McCartney had suggested to the authorities to transfer her to an elephant sanctuary.

Finally, the female elephant dubbed by animal rights activists as “the saddest” in the world, died at the Philippine Zoo on November 29. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) announced: “The world is mourning the death of Mali, who spent decades alone at the Manila Zoo. Rest in peace Mali, you deserved so much more.”

As announced by the competent authorities of the zoo, Mali died of heart failure but she also had cancer.

For years, animal rights activists have called for the liberation of Mali and they criticized the conditions prevailing in the zoo.

However, the zoo management maintained that Mali should remain in captivity as she did not know how to live free…