Elephant Rescued from Exploited Zoo Life After 35 Years of Isolation

An abused elephant who had spent 35 years being kept alone in a zoo in Puerto Rico has finally been rescued and has arrived at her new, permanent home.

Mundi the Elephant and Her Exploited Zoo Life

The female elephant, Mundi, who is now 41 years old, was abandoned as a small child and eventually hunted down in the wild.

Jones divided the juvenile herd in 1986 and sold the individual animals to zoos, circuses, and private buyers, according to Elephant Aid International. Mundi was sent to the zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico after a vicious attack that left her with one blind eye as well as a permanently broken tusk, where she languished in isolation for decades while being used for entertainment, occasionally having to perform for guests.

According to World Animal Protection (WAP), Mundi, who is 8 feet tall and weighs 8,000 pounds, is "calm and curious" inside. Mundi also apparently enjoys eating pineapple, watermelon, and broccoli.

According to Lindsay Oliver of World Animal Protection - US, Mundi has spent close to 35 years in solitude at the zoo.

Zoo Closure

The zoo had to close its doors to visitors due to Hurricane Maria in 2017. Moreover, the US Department of Agriculture revoked the zoo's exhibitor license in February 2018 after noting scores of breaches from prior years. These included failing to provide animals with veterinary care, which resulted in the death of a tiger, using expired food and medication, as well as failing to shield animals from physical dangers and excessive heat.

The Department of Justice revealed shortly after Puerto Rico's government that the zoo would be permanently closed in February 2023 that a deal had been reached to relocate the animals kept there. Mundi was offered to ERNA, and they complied by taking her in.

Also Read : Utah's Hogle Zoo Puts Elephant Care on Hold Breaking 100-Year Streak

The Rescue and Forever Home

But on Friday, Mundi was brought to the Attapulgus, Georgia, sanctuary of Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA). Non-profit groups WAP, Wild Animal Sanctuary, and Elephant Aid International (EAI) coordinated and carried out the rescue and relocation.

The 850 acres of rolling hills, green pastures, deep forests, spring-fed lakes, creeks, and streams make up the elephant sanctuary, which is managed by the EAI. Elephants may spend practically the entire year outside in this area thanks to the favorable climate.

At the sanctuary, which accepts retired zoos and circus elephants, the needs of the animals come first. They also receive customized treatment that takes into consideration any prior traumas.

The animals are free to decide how they want to spend their time, and the sanctuary is not accessible to the general public. However, there are live-stream cameras positioned all over the sanctuary, allowing the general public to covertly watch them and learn about their habits.

The sanctuary, which can house 10 people at a time, welcomed Mundi as its third elephant resident.

In a sanctuary, according to Oliver, Mundi will have more freedom to wander and control her life in a setting that is as natural for an elephant in her situation as is conceivable. Most importantly, she won't ever again be required to entertain guests, Newsweek reports.