LOOK: Mali's memory lives on at the National Museum of Natural History
The taxidermied remains of Mali, the Philippines’ long-beloved elephant, are now on display at the National Museum of Natural History.
Formally unveiled on Thursday, August 27, she joins the museum's preserved wildlife collection alongside Lolong, the famed giant saltwater crocodile.
Andoni Aboitiz, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the National Museum of the Philippines, said that the exhibition pays tribute to Mali, who has "became part of the lives of many generations of Filipinos."
After her passing in 2024, he said the National Museum was entrusted to preserve Mali "as a historically and culturally important zoological specimen."
"And through careful restoration and conservation, we have sought to preserve not only her physical form, but also the story that surrounds her," Aboitiz shared.
He continued: "Through the story of Vishwa Ma’ali herself, we are invited to think about wildlife, biodiversity, the forests that sustain elephants and other species, and the role that human actions play in shaping their future. Vishwa Ma’ali's story reminds us that caring for wildlife does not end with caring for just an individual animal. It also means protecting the habitats where wildlife belongs and ensuring that future generations can continue to experience and appreciate the diversity of life in our planet."
Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that this serves as a reminder to those who grew up seeing Mali.
"Marami sa atin ang may alaala kay Ma'ali. Kaya gusto nating mapanatili ang kwento at alaala niya—isang bahagi ng ating pagkabata at ng kasaysayan ng Maynila," he wrote on Facebook. "Kaya nagpapasalamat po tayo dahil ang isang yaman ng lungsod ay pinangangalagaan at iniingatan ng National Museum."
"Sa lahat po ng dumadayo sa Maynila at may alaala kay Ma'ali, muli po ninyo siyang masisilayan sa bago niyang tahanan sa National Museum," Moreno said.
Mali, orginally Vishwa Ma’ali, was welcomed into the world in Sri Lanka in 1974 and has been a resident at the Manila Zoo since 1977.
In a previous interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Manila Zoo tour guide Alekzssa Mirasol shared that the then 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.
According to Mirasol, Ma'ali gets triggered by the color red easily because this makes her remember her mother being taken away by a red truck, which is what led to her hatred of the color.
In Nov, 28, 2023, she passed away inside the Manila Zoo due to congestive heart failure, which affected other organs of her body based on necropsy findings. She also suffered from cancer.
The following year, the City of Manila hired a company that offered to preserve the remains of 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.