‘World’s Saddest Elephant’ Mali Finds New Home at National Museum
MALI – The elephant once known as the “world’s saddest elephant” now has a permanent home at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila. Her preserved body was officially put on display on Thursday, August 27, 2026, allowing the public to see the animal who became one of the most well-known attractions at the Manila Zoo.
Mali was orphaned after poachers killed her mother. She was only three years old when the Sri Lankan government gave her to former First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1977. She was then brought to the Philippines and spent nearly 50 years at the Manila Zoo until her death on November 28, 2023.
In 2013, animal rights group PETA and former Beatles member Paul McCartney led a campaign to move Mali to a sanctuary in Thailand. They said the transfer could have given her more space, better care, and the chance to interact with other elephants. However, the campaign failed, and Mali remained at the Manila Zoo until her death.
Instead of burying her, the Manila government decided to preserve her body through taxidermy. The process took 11 months in Angat, Bulacan. Her preserved remains were returned to the Manila Zoo in December 2024 before being transferred to the National Museum for long-term care and public viewing.
Mali is now displayed alongside Lolong, the crocodile recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity.
Manila officials said the National Museum can provide a safer and more suitable place to preserve Mali while allowing people to remember her. The exhibit is also seen as a way to preserve an important part of Manila’s history.
However, PETA criticized the display and again called for the public to avoid the Manila Zoo. The group said Mali’s preserved body should remind people of the suffering animals can experience when kept in captivity for long periods.
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