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All by herself and hemmed in by bleak walls, the world’s ­loneliest elephant is a pitiful sight.

Mali has not felt grass under her feet or had contact with another ­elephant for nearly 40 years. The trees around her walls are out of reach.

She was snatched away from her ­mother in Sri Lanka aged three and sent to the Philippines as a gift to then ­president Ferdinand Marcos in 1977.

Now 40 years old, Mali spends most of her waking hours leaning against the concrete walls in an attempt to ease her excruciatingly painful foot problems.

Her only respite from the monotony of her confinement is picking up peanuts thrown into her small enclosure by visitors.

Campaigners say her stark surroundings in Manila Zoo have left her chronically ­depressed and suffering from a host of potentially ­life-threatening ailments.

A Brit-run elephant sanctuary in Thailand has offered Mali a home and the funding to transport her there, but Filipino officials have refused to let her go.

Jason Baker, vice president of Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia, told the Sunday People: “Mali is suffering immensely, both physically and mentally.

“There is nothing more important to ­elephants than friends and family. In the wild, female elephants stay in close-knit extended groups for their entire lives.

“Aunts babysit, grandmothers mentor and siblings play. The entire herd participates in rearing young calves. Births are joyous ­celebrations and loved ones are mourned.

“These complex social animals need others who look like them, smell like them and ­understand them in order to lead fulfilling, happy lives.

“Mali is totally alone at the Manila Zoo and is profoundly depressed. Keeping her in isolation is extremely cruel.”

Perhaps saddest of all are signs outside her enclosure describing the habitat she should live in.

Jason explained: “The sign states elephants ‘favour areas with grass, coupled with low trees’ yet all Mali has is concrete.

(Image: presspeople.co.uk)

“She hasn’t felt grass beneath her feet since she was moved into her enclosure ­almost four decades ago.

“Her painful and debilitating foot ­problems will kill her if they ­continue to go untreated and time is running out fast.

“A world-renowned sanctuary has agreed to accept Mali but the government is denying her this chance of freedom.”

Wild elephants normally roam up to 30 miles a day over varying terrain. Mali’s tiny concrete enclosure has caused cracks on the soles of her feet that could be fatal.

Jason explained: “Foot infections and arthritis are the leading causes of death among captive elephants.

“Without sustained, expert treatment, Mali’s feet are going to worsen and will likely result in her death.

“She needs specialised treatment and to live in an environment that has grass and soft dirt to cushion her feet.”

Should Mali be given permission to leave, PETA have secured a place for her at the Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) in Thailand.

It was set up in 2005 by Katherine Connor, who had a successful career in retail management in Britian before moving to Asia. Her project is home to 12 ­rescued elephants and the staff have ­expertise in rehabilitating sick animals.

Katherine said: “I look forward to ­welcoming Mali into the BLES family.

“During my years of rescuing elephants in Thailand, two things have become clear to me – elephants do not belong in captivity, and they are not meant to be alone.”

If and when Mali is allowed to live out her final years at the sanctuary, she’ll be able to explore large natural areas, play in rivers and socialise with other elephants.

Jason added: “Even though Mali has lived in captivity all this time she is still a wild ­animal at heart. We’re desperate for the Filipino authorities to grant permission for her to be moved to the sanctuary. Her life may depend on it.”