Sir Paul takes up Mali’s cause

MANILA, Philippines - Music enthusiast President Aquino has received a letter from another celebrity, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, requesting that the government allow the transfer of the elephant Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand.

American actress Pamela Anderson had earlier offered to have dinner with Aquino to discuss the transfer of 39-year-old Mali from the Manila Zoo to Thailand’s elephant sanctuary.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is hoping that receiving a letter from a living legend like McCartney would finally convince the President, who is a music enthusiast, to let Mali go.

Mali is the only elephant at the Manila Zoo and has been living a solitary life for the past 36 years.

PETA, with the support of local and foreign celebrities, has called for Mali’s transfer from the Manila Zoo to a Thai elephant sanctuary that it said is a better place for elephants to live.

In the one-page letter, the 71-year-old McCartney said, “I am writing to add my voice to the many others who are supporting the transfer of Mali, the lonely elephant currently being held at the Manila Zoo, to a sanctuary in Thailand as soon as possible.”

“I respectfully urge you to use your good offices to expedite the transfer as, with every single day that she remains in the zoo, Mali suffers... With a stroke of a pen, you can bring an end to her suffering, and I urge you, with all my heart, to direct that Mali be given that joy now,” McCartney added.

McCartney told President Aquino that he has great regard for governments that intervene in behalf of animals.

He recalled that in May 2012, Aquino gave an order that the elephant be evaluated and be considered for transfer.

Unfortunately, it has been 10 months since he gave the directive “yet Mali seems no closer to enjoying her well-deserved retirement at an approved sanctuary.”

McCartney said, “I have heard from my friends at PETA that various government authorities are continuing to deny that Mali’s welfare should be within their jurisdiction and that the veterinarian who was brought in to perform a health assessment failed to address Mali’s debilitating foot problems and the unimaginable loneliness of a herd animal kept alone. Action must be taken for this ailing elephant, and you hold the key.

“The video footage of Mali is heartbreaking. You only have to have a heart to see what so many experts have already pointed out: that the way she continuously favors one leg is a sign of constant pain. I was shocked to learn that Mali has never even received proper preventive foot care when foot and joint problems are the leading cause of death among captive elephants kept on hard surfaces and when this type of care is something that every reputable zoo in the world offers,” he added.

Last Wednesday, the city government of Manila announced that instead of transferring Mali to a Thai sanctuary, Sri Lankan officials offered to donate two elephants to the Manila Zoo to keep Mali company.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the zoo will be renovated and Mali, with the two new elephants, could stay in a larger and better facility.

PETA officers opposed Estrada’s plan, saying that the only place for Mali to have a better life is in an elephant sanctuary.

McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison were members of the iconic Beatles.

McCartney has pursued a very successful solo career after the Fab Four broke up.