IPOH: The transfer of three elephants from Zoo Taiping & Night Safari (ZTNS) to Tennoji Zoo in Japan is not a commercial transaction or sale, but part of an official conservation collaboration between the two zoos.
Perak housing and local government committee chairman Sandrea Ng said the move, which has drawn public attention, was carried out under a sister zoo arrangement focused on conservation, knowledge sharing and enhancing animal care standards.
She stressed that the three elephants remain the property of ZTNS, with no transfer of ownership involved.
She noted that such international collaborations are a common practice, where animal exchanges are determined based on the suitability of facilities, available expertise and the long-term needs of the species, with animal welfare as the primary consideration.
"The transfer, which has been planned since 2021, went through multiple stages of approval, including clearance from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), export permits, and certification by both Malaysia and Japan.
"The initiative is in line with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan, and complies with the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010," she said in her winding-up speech at the state assembly sitting here on Monday (April 20).
The three elephants – Dara, Amoi and Kelat – arrived safely in Tennoji Zoo after leaving Malaysia last month.
Ng said prior to the relocation, technical assessments and site visits were conducted to ensure the facilities in Osaka met required standards, while staff from Tennoji Zoo trained at Zoo Taiping with the involvement of Perhilitan.
She said under the agreement, Tennoji Zoo is responsible for ensuring the elephants’ welfare, including providing a suitable habitat, proper nutrition, regular veterinary care and safety measures, with periodic reporting and joint monitoring mechanisms in place.
