Ticket photo of the week: A very big grave for Manyula

A sad day in El Salvador this week.

Manyula died.

The Asian elephant arrived from India at that nation's National Zoo in 1955, which was even before Joe Biden was a senator.

In fact, the current vice president was only a seventh-grader at the time that the symbol of the Republican Party moved into that Central American zoo.

Nearly three generations of locals visited Manyula over the ensuing 55 years and she became a friendly fixture in the memory of countless families.

Hundreds of mourners, some wearing costumes, showed up for her funeral in a very large grave beneath a very large tarpaulin festooned with flowers.

The United States did not send an official delegation headed by a vice president.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photos: Reuters

 

Comments

[Parry]

Let's hope there will be no more elephants in zoos in the future. To consign a lone elephant, one of the most social, intelligent creatures on Earth, to a severely confined, solitary existence, is the height of human arrogance and cruelty. May there be no further pathetic Manyulas to languish for our cheap entertainment. Free all elephants from zoos and circuses!

[Harold Garcia]

Manyula was a great icon for the Salvadorean community. She put a smile in the faces of many generations. It's sad to hear that part of my childhood is dead. We will always remember her. We'll remember how she used to show off when people came to visit her; that wild and happy spirit she used to have. Thank you Manyula...thank you for drawing so many smiles in the innocent faces of so many children. Te recordaremos siempre.

[Sylvia Herrera]

The government is investigating the death of close to 50 animals at this zoo on 2009. Animals keep dying in this place. A coati was killed by two zoo guards inside the zoo, then they tried to smuggle the body out. A lion cub was fed a whole chicken and died while suffocating on a bone.
This place needs to be investigated, the animals rescued and the zoo closed. We need more people to be aware of what goes on there, the zoo can't provide for these animals. When Manyula became sick they had to bring a specialist from another country, it took days for the person to arrive. She had not eaten or drink anything for close to 8 days and the zoo officials were still debating if she needed to be euthanized. Pathetic and really tragic. Please, help us spread the word. Close this place and rescue the animals!

[Roxana Cortez]

I heard on the news they don't want to bring more elephants, instead they want to build a monument to elephants and have people learn about hem just by all the info they will provide there! It is a good idea and I support it!
R.I.P. Manyulita, she was buried like a queen. These and other species should be more protected by all governments, there aren't many in the wild because stupid people kill them and/or keep them in captivity!