Nobel laureate appeals for ailing elephant
J.M. Coetzee joins calls for elephant to be sent to overseas sanctuary
- Juan Fontejon, Manila
- Philippines
- July 13, 2012
Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee has called on the government to let a 38-year-old ailing elephant at Manila Zoo be transferred to a sanctuary in Thailand.
"I am writing in support of the campaign to remove the elephant, Mali, from the zoo in Manila where she has spent the past 35 years, to a place of safety," Coetzee said in letter to officials of the Department of Agriculture.
"Thirty-five years is a heavy sentence to bear, longer than is served by most murderers. Mali has paid the penalty for not being fortunate enough to be born human. Now it is time to release her," the writer said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which first raised concerns over Mali’s health in the zoo, released excerpts of Coetzee’s letter in a press statement today.
Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003 and the coveted Booker Prize in 1983 and 1999. His acclaimed works include Waiting for the Barbarians, The Lives of Animals, Elizabeth Costello, Diary of a Bad Year and Summertime.
Coetzee was born in South Africa but is now an Australian citizen.
British rock icon Morrissey had earlier written to President Benigno Aquino asking that the elephant be freed from captivity, sent into retirement and allowed to live in a US sanctuary.
The elephant has been at the zoo for three decades after having been orphaned at 4 years of age and then donated by the Sri Lankan government to the then first lady, Imelda Marcos.
Officials from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau said they support plans to return Mali to Sri Lanka if the animal is healthy enough to survive the risks of transfer.
"I am writing in support of the campaign to remove the elephant, Mali, from the zoo in Manila where she has spent the past 35 years, to a place of safety," Coetzee said in letter to officials of the Department of Agriculture.
"Thirty-five years is a heavy sentence to bear, longer than is served by most murderers. Mali has paid the penalty for not being fortunate enough to be born human. Now it is time to release her," the writer said.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which first raised concerns over Mali’s health in the zoo, released excerpts of Coetzee’s letter in a press statement today.
Coetzee won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003 and the coveted Booker Prize in 1983 and 1999. His acclaimed works include Waiting for the Barbarians, The Lives of Animals, Elizabeth Costello, Diary of a Bad Year and Summertime.
Coetzee was born in South Africa but is now an Australian citizen.
British rock icon Morrissey had earlier written to President Benigno Aquino asking that the elephant be freed from captivity, sent into retirement and allowed to live in a US sanctuary.
The elephant has been at the zoo for three decades after having been orphaned at 4 years of age and then donated by the Sri Lankan government to the then first lady, Imelda Marcos.
Officials from the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau said they support plans to return Mali to Sri Lanka if the animal is healthy enough to survive the risks of transfer.
