MANILA - In eight months, the beloved elephant of Manila Zoo, Mali, can be seen again.

This as Mali is currently undergoing taxidermy, the process of preserving the body of a deceased animal to recreate it as if it were alive.

Leading the preservation of Mali's body is Dr. Jason Sumaway of PetEternity. According to Sumaway, who has preserved hundreds of animal bodies such as dogs, cats, horses, and many others, he immediately contacted the Manila Local Government to initiate the Taxidermy process for the elephant that passed away on November 28, 2023.

• Philippines' lone elephant, Mali, dies

“Naghanap na ako ng contacts sa Manila Zoo at Manila Government. After po namin makakita ng connection with the Manila Government, tumawag po ako sa kanila mga 6:30 p.m., nag-response sila around 11 p.m. na, kasi naging busy sila sa necropsy,” he said.

Due to the time that has passed since Mali's death, some parts of her body have decayed.

“Noong i-check ko po si Mali, siyempre po, from 3:45 ng tanghali hanggang sa kinabukasan po, kasi ‘yung eight hours po na oras ay masyadong crucial for taxidermy. Pagdating po namin doon, nakita po namin na may mga decayed parts na hindi namin puwede isama para kay Mali,” Sumaway explained.

Despite some decayed parts, Sumaway and his team worked tirelessly to preserve the elephant's body.

• Expert: Mali, PH's lone elephant, died of congestive heart failure

“Ang naging reaksyon ko, ako personally nalungkot kasi ang laging bumabalik sa isip ko ay hindi itong bagong enclosure siya, kasi nakita ko siya noong ako ay I think kinder o Grade 1 doon sa, mayroon siyang enclosure na may butas lang, basta bigla lang siya lalabas na pag inaabangan ng mga bata, noong nakita ko siya, bumalik sa isip ko,” he said.

“Hindi lang po malapit sa puso, kumbaga po, the reason why hinanap ko po yung right person kung paano kami maka-connect, kasi legacy po ito ng bansa natin. Kumbaga, ito yung only elephant na tumagal ang buhay ng ganung kahaba. Tapos po, sa mga kabataan na 1981 and above, imposible na kapag nag-field trip ng Manila Zoo or kung taga-Manila ka, imposibleng hindi po kilala si Mali,” Sumaway added.

According to Sumaway, they will do everything to restore Mali's former appearance whenever the public visits her at Manila Zoo.

“Ang version ni Mali na makikita natin is ‘yung the same na masaya siya na nakataas ang trunk niya tapos naka open mouth, nakalabas ang tongue niya tapos moving ang motion ng katawan niya, parang naglalakad siya. Tapos ang ear niya, medyo challenging para sa amin pero pipilitin namin na maibukas,” he said.

"According to our consultants, it may last for a hundred years, pero siyempre may mga contributing factors na pupuwedeng mangyari para masira po siya,” Sumaway explained.

Sumaway promises that those who love Mali will not forget her memory that brought joy to countless Filipinos for almost four decades.

“Huwag po kayong mag-alala, ibibigay po namin ang best effort, lahat po gagawin namin. Ibibigay namin lahat ng part namin para makita ninyo ulit si Mali. Aside from makita ninyo si Mali ma-introduce po ninyo sa mga anak hanggang sa apo ninyo na ito lang ‘yung elepante na nabuhay sa bansa ng ganung kahaba. Inabot po siya ng apat na dekada, so hindi naman po pupuwede na basta basta natin siyang ilibing tapos mawala na lang sa ala-ala natin,” he said.