“Maali loves Noel.”
A photographer named Kathy Chua-Grimme, who is also the daughter of renowned photographer John Chua, expressed this in a post about Noel Co, the primary caretaker of Vishwa Ma’ali or Maali the elephant.
Maali, the so-called lonely elephant of Manila Zoo, died due to congestive heart failure and other underlying illnesses on November 28.
Her death resulted in a collective mourning for Filipinos who grew up visiting him in the zoo.
Love of a caretaker
Chua-Grimme on November 30 reminisced the time when Noel promised her father that he would take care of Maali when he was still alive. Chua died in 2018 at 69 years old.
“When my dad was dying, Noel wrote ‘Maali (heart emoji) John’ in big, bold letters in front of Maali’s enclosure, sent him the photo, and promised to take care of her the way they both did when my dad was stronger. Papa rested in the comfort that Noel would be there for Maali, and he was. He was always there for Maali,” she wrote.
Chua-Grimme accompanied her post with a picture of the “Maali loves John” lettering in Maali’s enclosure.
She also noted that Co “lost a family” after Maali died.
“Now, Noel is grieving. Maali may be with Papa, but Noel lost family, too. Noel’s love may be quieter, but it was never less important. He was her primary caretaker, and he did an amazing job,” Chua-Grimme said.
Chua-Grimme then defended Co from critics who accused him of mistreating Maali, thus causing his death.
She noted that Co stood by Maali through “every storm” and “every scorching summer.”
“It hurts to see how suddenly, there’s a flood of armchair activists and pseudo-elephant experts, casting blame and hurling hurtful criticisms towards the very people who at least did something for Maali in her lifetime,” the advertising photographer said.
“Noel was there through every storm, every scorching summer. He shoveled her enclosure clean. Hauled sand for her sandbaths. Waded in the water with a tray full of fruits. Patiently coaxed her into new spaces. She trusted him enough to let him perch on her neck, which speaks volumes if you’re talking about an elephant with no formal training,” she added.
Chua-Grimme also recalled how Maali, who was found an orphan in Sri Lanka, found a “family” with her father and Co.
“They gave her a home. She found family in my dad and Noel. They did the best they could to keep Maali happy and loved. With great devotion, Noel tended to her daily care,” she said.
Chua-Grimme pointed out that Maali’s caretakers did all these things for Maali with “very little funding” from the Manila Zoo management.
Moreover, she also addressed those who are calling for Maali’s return to the wild, saying that it “is a bit more complicated than it sounds.”
Chua-Grimme ended her post with a message to Co.
“Kapit lang, Noel. Hindi ka nagiisa. Wag kang makinig sa mga taong wala namang ginawa para sa kanya. Salamat sa pagmamahal mo kay Maali. Mahal ka ni Maali,” she said.
Co, meanwhile, has also been uploading old pictures and videos of him and Maali while expressing how much he missed her.
In one of his posts, Maali’s longtime companion described the elephant as his “big family” who has passed away.
“Maali sobrang bigat ang nadadama ko pero nandito kalang sa likod ko. Bitbit kita kaya hindi ka mawawala sa puso at isipan ko habang buhay. Love you, Maali my BIG FAMILY,” he wrote in his post.
Opposing a replacement for Maali
In a statement, the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), an animal welfare organization, opposed the Manila City government’s pitch to replace Maali.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna floated this idea after announcing the zoo animal’s death.
“The majestic elephants and wild animals belong to the wild. They are social animals. Our fight for the welfare of animals has gained traction and attention in recent times because of the increased awareness of the plight of farm and companion animals, and even wildlife,” Animal Kingdom Foundation’s Program Director Heidi Marquez Caguioa said in the statement.
“Mali suffered for many years. We must not let this happen again,” she added.
Several Filipinos have also earlier voiced out their opposition against putting another elephant in captivity in the zoo.
READ: ‘Please no’: Manila Zoo ‘Mali’ elephant replacement opposed