Malaysia seeks return of elephants as Japan climate, welfare concerns grow

The three Malaysian elephants sent to Osaka in Japan from Zoo Taiping and Night Safari should be brought home, according to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup.Arthur made the call amid concerns that Japan’s climate is unsuitable for the elephants and that one of them, Kelat, has suffered an injury.Last Friday, a group of protesters gathered outside the ministry, urging the government to bring the elephants back.They cited welfare concerns following the relocation last month.The protest was led by social activist Kalai Vanar, who submitted a memorandum to ministry officials, including deputy secretary general Mas Rizal Mohd Hilmi and Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) deputy director general (conservation) Fakhrul Hatta Musa.Arthur stressed that the decision to send the elephants to Osaka’s Tennoji Zoo was made under an earlier administration, not during his tenure.He pointed out that the decision was made in 2022 through a business-to-business agreement between Zoo Taiping and Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo.“The NRES ministry was not a signatory to the agreement,” he added.“However, we [the ministry] carry the responsibility for the welfare of wildlife from our country,” he said during a press conference in Putrajaya on Wednesday.Kelat reportedly suffered a damaged tusk and that a shortening procedure had to be carried out on the animal’s other tusk to balance the weight distribution and prevent strain on its skull and jaw, reports said.Perhilitan stressed that no animal cruelty was involved and that it was a necessary veterinary procedure following an outcry online.Further ReadingThis story was first published by The Star