The ordinarily happy and festive atmosphere at the popular tourism attraction of The Bali Zoo became somber and grief-laden as the large, lifeless carcass of a 3.5-ton Sumatran elephant “Molly” was laid to rest and buried on Wednesday, 18 December 2024.
Following a coordinated and Herculean effort to evacuate the dead body of the 2.5-ton mammal from the banks of the Cengceng River in Sukawati on Tuesday, Molly’s remains were moved and buried in a religiously-inspired ceremonial on the grounds of The Bali Zoo. Adding to an already sad occasion, the burial that was witnessed by tens of Bali Zoo employees was held in the pouring rain.
As reported earlier on this website, Sadly, Sinkable Molly, the Sumatran Elephant , a much-loved elephant, was swept down the Ayung River during a torrential rain storm on the afternoon of 16 December 2024.
Media reports have put Molly’s age at 29 or 45. The life expectancy of a captive Sumatran elephant can range from 60 to 70 years,
Once Molly’s lifeless body was discovered entangled among the large riverside boulders at the Village of Guwang, Sukawati, more than 3 km from where the elephant was first swept into the fast-moving waters, a massive evacuation process began. Because of Molly’s weight and size, recovery workers, with the help of villagers, were required to cut a 600-meter access pathway to the riverside, knock down an 8-meter-high wall, and engage a crane and heavy-duty removal truck.
There was a sense of added urgency to the recovery process as the animal’s carcass had begun to decompose, becoming bloated with post-mortem gas and bodily fluids.
The burial ceremony at The Bali Zoo was held at 8:30 pm on 18 December and included floral tributes and joint prayers.
“The entire Bali Zoo team is deeply saddened by Molly’s passing. We are carrying out this evacuation and burial process as a form of final respect for Molly, who has become an irreplaceable part of our extended family,” said Emma Chandra, Public Relations of The Bali Zoo.
The demise of Molly leaves The Bali Zoo with a population of 14 Sumatran elephants comprised of four males and ten females.
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