ATTAPULGUS, Ga. — An African elephant that has lived partially chained up in a Puerto Rican zoo for nearly 35 years is getting a new start at life in south Georgia.
Mundi, who is 41, currently lives at the Mayguez Zoo, which has been closed to the public for years due to inadequate funding.
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Mundi lives alone in a small yard where she is chained up in a small shelter at night, according to elephant rescue organization Elephant Aid International (EAI).
On Wednesday, EAI posted on Facebook that the U.S. Department of Justice has ruled to permanently close the zoo and enforce the removal of all the remaining animals.
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Mundi will be rescued by Georgia-based Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA). The refuge is in Attapulgus, Georgia, and is more than 850 acres of rolling hills, pastures, forests and lakes.
Attapulgus is in Decatur County on the Georgia/Florida line and has a population of just 454 people.
“Mundi’s projected arrival date is May 4,” the organization wrote. “She will fly in a custom-built transport crate on a designated 747 flight from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville, Florida, then be moved by truck to ERNA.”
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ERNA currently has two other rescued elephants. The refuge is not open to the public and ERNA volunteers don’t interact with the animals so that the can live as naturally as possible. The climate in the area is ideal for elephants to live outside year-round.
You can sneak a peak at the animals on the organization’s webcam.
The refuge is supported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. ERNA is raising money to help with Mundi’s trip to her new home HERE.
“Normally, a move of this magnitude would take months to plan and execute, but in this case, the order to move Mundi immediately means we must work fast!” the organization wrote. “As with all emergency rescues, we must quickly raise the funds necessary to provide for Mundi in her forever home.”
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