Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes join call for Mali the elephant's release

The number of celebrities calling for Mali the elephant's transfer from the Manila Zoo to a sanctuary in Thailand seems to keep on growing.

On Wednesday, Kapuso star couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes posed for a mug shot-like picture, holding cards that bear their name followed by the words "Wants Mali Freed," which was released by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia.

 

"Being alone is emotional torture to elephants," Dantes says in his public service announcement for PETA.

 

"Mali has been sentenced to a miserable life of solitary confinement with absolutely nothing to do day after day, year after year," said PETA Asia Campaign Manager Rochelle Regodon.
"How long will the deafening call for her freedom—coming from scientists, politicians, religious leaders, and celebrities—be ignored by her cruel captors at the Manila Zoo?"

 

Before Dingdong and Marian, other celebrities who have supported PETA's call were rocker Ely Buendia, international singer Cat Stevens, French film legend Brigitte Bardot, music sensation Morrissey, and Nobel Prize–winning author J.M. Coetzee.

 

Earlier, a group of models and actresses, including actress and singer Geneva Cruz and model Amanda Griffin Jacob, posed for a PETA photo shoot, wearing nothing more than placards that spell out "Naked Truth: Mali the Elephant Is Suffering."

 

Even former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada also added his voice to those calling for Mali's transfer.

 

Estrada earlier wrote a letter to PETA condemning the conditions in which Mali is being forced to live in. "It is not right for people, especially children, to see lonely, ailing, and depressed animals living in deplorable conditions." 

 

According to PETA, Mali's veterinary care "has been essentially ignored for more than 36 years, causing her to endure constant pain."

 

"Elephants are highly social animals who live naturally in herds and suffer greatly in the absence of other elephants. Mali is all alone—making her transfer even more urgent," it added.

 

Despite such calls, however, Manila Zoo has remained firm against sending Mali to a sanctuary abroad, saying that with the elephant's age, her chances of surviving the trip to Thailand is low.

 

"Mali is 38 years old, matanda na siya," said veterinarian Donald Manalastas, division chief of the zoological division of Manila Zoo, in October last year. "Ganito po ang mangyayari, ilalagay siya sa crate, ilo-load sa truck, ilalagay sa eroplano, pagdating ng Thailand, i-unload ulit at ilalagay sa isang quarantined area, tapos biyahe ulit sa truck, at transfer ulit..." — Amanda Fernandez/RSJ, GMA News