IPOH - The three elephants Dara, Amoi and Kelat that were transferred to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan, remain the property of the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari (TZNS) and do not involve any transfer of ownership or sale transactions.
Perak Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching said the relocation of the three elephants was not a commercial transaction and not a "sale" as alleged.
"... on the contrary, it is part of the official collaboration between Taiping Zoo & Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo in Osaka under the sister zoo concept, which focuses on conservation, expertise sharing and raising the standards of animal care," she said in her winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting here today.
Ng said that under the cooperation, the responsibility for the welfare of the elephants is clear and binding, including the provision of suitable habitats, regular feeding and veterinary health care, as well as the implementation of safety systems and emergency plans.
She said that the zoo authorities in Osaka also need to provide periodic reports, and the implementation will be monitored via a joint mechanism.
Ng said that, in the context of conservation, the placement and exchange of animals are made based on the suitability of facilities, expertise, and the long-term needs of the species.
"The important thing is that the welfare of the animals themselves is ensured through a clear and adhered system. In this case, the entire process has been systematically implemented since 2021 and has gone through various stages of approval.
"This includes approval from Perhilitan (Wildlife and National Parks Department), export permits, as well as verification under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) by both Malaysia and Japan," she said, adding that the cooperation is also in line with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) and subject to the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).
In another development, Ng shared the good news about the D’aman Residensi housing project in Meru Raya, which obtained the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on April 16 after being stalled for eight years.
She also said that with the acquisition of the CCC, the project is now in the final phase before buyers can collect the keys and subsequently occupy their respective residences, with vacant possession (VP) expected to be implemented around May.
Previously, the construction of the housing project, which was on the list of ‘sick projects’, was resumed in 2024 after being stalled for three years, involving approximately 60 owners. - BERNAMA