Maliaka--Henry Doorly Zoo

Maliaka, above in 2008

Oct. 19, 2010


Shenka is mourning.

She misses Maliaka, her longtime elephant buddy at the Henry Doorly Zoo, who died Saturday. Maliaka, who was 47, and Shenga, who is 28, were the zoo's only elephants. The two, both African elephants, shared a one-acre compound called Pachyderm Hill.“Shenga has been looking over in the other pen for Maliaka,” said Dan Cassidy, the zoo's general curator. “She definitely knows something is wrong.”Staff members found Maliaka, who came to the zoo in 1966 at age 3, on her side Saturday morning. They failed to get Maliaka on her feet, and she died a few hours later.She had been the zoo's oldest resident.A necropsy found no major health problems, and tissue samples have been sent to a pathology lab for examination, Cassidy said. Maliaka, who was the second-oldest elephant in captivity in North America, will be buried on zoo grounds.“She was in old age as far as African elephants go,” Cassidy said. “It's not unusual for elephants in their late 40s or early 50s to develop an illness and die.”Friday was a normal day for Maliaka, Cassidy said. Her keepers reported that she ate her normal amount of food — 50 pounds of straw, 30 pounds of grain and 25 pounds of hay — and exhibited no signs of illness. Saturday, zoo personnel worked feverishly to save Maliaka.Cassidy said the staff tried to lift Maliaka to her feet, using large slings attached to a mechanical hoist. But Maliaka lacked the strength to stand.“We worked pretty hard for a couple of hours,” Cassidy said. “Some of us have known that animal for a lot of years. I worked with her a lot when I first came here in 1973.”The friendship between Maliaka and Shenga sometimes was one-sided, Cassidy said. Maliaka, who was noted for having gold tips on her tusks, often sought time alone.“Shenga liked Maliaka more than Maliaka liked Shenga,” Cassidy said. “We put in a gate in their compound so Maliaka could get away when she wanted.”In their barn, the elephants enjoyed separate stalls, but they could reach through the bars and lay their trunks on one another's heads in a sign of affection.Elephants are social animals that do well in groups. The zoo's master plan calls for an expanded elephant exhibit in the next few years. Cassidy said eight to 12 elephants could make their home in a new compound, but no timetable has been set.Zoo Director Dennis Pate is currently on a tour of European zoos to get ideas for a new elephant complex.“European zoos tend to be a little ahead of U.S. zoos on the latest architectural developments,” Cassidy said. “Elephants are a major attraction, and we want to incorporate the very best ideas for our exhibit.”It's possible that the zoo will obtain an elephant to keep Shenga company. Shenga also could be lent to another zoo with a large number of elephants.“Elephants are very intelligent, and they show a lot of personality,” Cassidy said. “That's what endears them to their keepers and the public. We want Shenga to be happy.”

Courtesy John Goodall _____________________________________________________________________Boy,

Boy, the elephant world just get's stranger and stranger. First we have Minnie, having less then a care, at the death of her life companion, Lottie. Then we have Shanga, mourning the death of her life companion Maliaka, who had to be isolated from Shanga most of their life together, because she beat Shanga to death!!!!!!! My respects and condolence's to Mr. Cassidy, who is affiliated with one of the best zoo's in the United States, but I think he has just "done some projecting." I get more and more confused every day, but I am sure given the dedication of animal rights and wild elephant research experts, they will have it worked out for me soon enough. After all, they brilliantly documented Post Tramatic Stress in elephants. They have probably put their binocular's back in the case, and are looking into Battered Person Syndrome for the next alibi. Whoops. I'm sorry, I meant to type answer.