PUTRAJAYA - The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) stressed that the proposal to bring back Dara, Amoi and Kelat, currently housed at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan, should be seriously considered by Zoo Taiping & Night Safari, taking into account public interest and current sensitivities.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, urged the management of Zoo Taiping & Night Safari to begin negotiations with Tennoji Zoo to assess the requirements and mechanisms needed to repatriate the elephants.
He said this is because both zoos have contractual obligations.
“After reviewing the memorandum submitted, the ministry is, in principle, of the view that the proposal to return the three elephants should be seriously considered,” he said at a special press conference here on Wednesday.
He added that the business-to-business (B2B) cooperation between ZTNS and ZTO was established through agreements signed on May 19, 2022 and Oct 6, 2022 but NRES is not a party to those agreements.
“Based on records from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) Peninsular Malaysia and cross-checked with ZTNS, the strategic cooperation between ZTNS and ZTO was formalised through an agreement signed on May 19, 2022, in Malaysia involving one male elephant and a second agreement signed on Oct 6, 2022, in Japan involving two female elephants.
“In this regard, I would like to emphasise that NRES is not a party to these agreements and that all three elephants are assets of ZTNS.
“Although the decision was made by the previous administration, as the minister holding the mandate today, I will not compromise on issues concerning wildlife welfare,” Arthur said.
He stressed that if the implementation of the agreement is found to no longer align with conservation principles, wildlife welfare, and current sensitivities, the need to return the three elephants to their original habitat must be seriously and urgently considered.
“I also take seriously issues involving the welfare of the elephants under this agreement and have taken action, including raising the matter during a courtesy call by the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Noriyuki Shikata, on April 13,” he said.
Additionally, he said a meeting involving senior management of NRES and Perhilitan, along with the President of the Taiping Municipal Council and ZTNS management, was held on April 21, which among others discussed the Elephant Conservation Programme of both parties.
“During the meeting, we put forward several proposals and requested certain actions to be taken, as well as general clarifications, but to date, those actions, requests and proposals have yet to be fulfilled by both parties,” he said.
Last Friday, Sinar reported that a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) gave the ministry three days to issue a statement on bringing back the three Asian elephants currently placed at the zoo since March 10.
Sekretariat Bahana Kesetiaan Negara Bahana Kesetiaan Negara (SBKB) chairman Datuk S Kalai stressed that the health records, history and origins of the three elephants show that they had been at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre since a young age, contrary to claims that they originated from ZTNS.
The transfer was part of a bilateral cooperation carefully planned since 2022 and coordinated by Perhilitan.
Amoi is nine years old, Dara is 14 and Kelat is 20. They were relocated as part of the Malaysian Elephant Conservation Programme aimed at breeding and research.
Meanwhile, Arthur did not rule out the involvement of the Perak state government to ensure that negotiations can be carried out formally.
“Perhaps after this, we may need to bring the matter to the state government level, as ZTNS falls under the state government,” he said.
He also stressed that any decision must be based on facts, scientific evidence and recognised animal welfare standards.
“If the implementation of this agreement is found to no longer align with conservation principles, wildlife welfare and current sensitivities, then it will become necessary to return the three elephants,” he said.
When asked about funding to bring back the three elephants, Arthur said the ministry is prepared to source funds if needed.
“On the basis of conservation and national interest, as a minister and the ministry involved, we are prepared to seek funding on our part if necessary to bring back the elephants for conservation and to safeguard our elephants,” he said.