Elephant caught in the middle

A 35-year old elephant is at the center of fierce tug-of-war between activists and her handlers at the Manila Zoo. On Tuesday, Jan 15 a petition signed by over 60,000 respondents was delivered by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to the Department of Agriculture requesting for her transfer to a sanctuary in Thailand. The petition states that keeping a female elephant, that by its nature lives in a heard is, “the most cruel thing to do.” Her handlers at the Manila Zoo argue that Mali was ostracized by the last two elephants she socialized with and that at her age might not survive the trip to Thailand.