IPOH: An official memorandum will be submitted to the director of Taiping Zoo and Night Safari to convey public concerns over the welfare of three Malaysian elephants Dara, Amoi and Kelat – currently housed at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan.
MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said the memorandum will be handed over during a solidarity gathering titled “Solidarity with DAK” (referring to Dara, Amoi and Kelat, using the initials of their names), scheduled for 10am on May 9 at Dataran Taiping Zoo.
“The public is encouraged to support this initiative and push for the safe return of the elephants to Malaysia,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Neow, who is also Barisan Nasional Youth communications director, said the move follows Barisan Youth’s plan to establish a “Solidarity with DAK Secretariat” to spearhead efforts to bring the elephants home.
“The secretariat will serve as a platform to coordinate advocacy, raise public awareness and drive sustained action to safeguard animal welfare and ensure more humane treatment of wildlife.
“As a first step, the ‘Solidarity with DAK’ gathering will see an official memorandum submitted to the zoo director, outlining public concerns and demands regarding the plight of Dara, Amoi and Kelat.”
He also said Barisan and MCA Youth welcomed the call by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail for Taiping Zoo and Night Safari to begin immediate negotiations with Tennoji Zoo to explore mechanisms for the elephants’ return.
The move comes amid public concern sparked by a viral video showing Malaysian tourists visiting Tennoji Zoo and questioning the elephants’ living conditions.
Amoi, aged nine, Dara (14) and Kelat (20), were sent to Tennoji Zoo on March 10 under the Malaysian Elephant Conservation Programme for breeding and research purposes.
