Captive no more: Mundi’s journey to freedom and rehabilitation

For 35 long years, in the western side of Puerto Rico, Mundi endured the burden of captivity within the confines of the Mayaguez Zoo. The story of the 41-year-old female elephant is one that resonates with the broader issues faced by captive animals and the challenges surrounding the Mayaguez Zoo.

Mundi’s journey began in 1984 when she was captured during a mass culling by the government of Zimbabwe and brought to the island of Puerto Rico. This abrupt disruption to her life took a toll on her physical and emotional well-being, as she was kept on display in isolation at the zoo for nearly 35 years. Although Mundi remained one of the institution’s main attractions, she was just one of the hundreds of animals being evacuated from Puerto Rico’s zoo.