You gotta hand it to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, not the theater group).
Last year, the animal-loving group got the support of Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson for the release of Mali the elephant who has been in captivity at the Manila Zoo for 36 years! Anderson reportedly invited PNoy to dinner, “to discuss the state of the controversial 38-year-old elephant,” according to GMAnetwork.com.
Unfortunately, the president was, like, meh.
Also lending their voices were Morrissey, French film legend Brigitte Bardot, Cat Stevens, and Nobel Prize-winning author J.M. Coetzee. But they all failed in getting the Manila Zoo administration to agree with PETA’s suggestion to move Mali to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. They say that given Mali’s old age, she might not survive the transfer.
But that’s not stopping PETA.
The animal activists are trying another route: perhaps the authorities will listen to a local celebrity?
Enter Ely Buendia, best known for his work with the legendary ’90s band Eraserheads, and now with The Oktaves and Pupil.
“Just try to remember what you were doing in 1979,” says Buendia in a statement released by PETA. “That’s the last time Mali saw another elephant. I hope people will join me in calling for Mali’s transfer to a sanctuary where she can finally be free to act like an elephant and engage in the behavior that comes naturally to her.”
Apparently, Mali is denied everything that’s natural and important to her. She endures potentially fatal foot problems that leave her in constant pain. A life in a sanctuary should be good for her. And get this: The sanctuary that PETA has been eyeing for the elephant has already agreed to take Mali in.
So, what were you doing in 1979?
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