PETALING JAYA: A staff member at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan, has shared an update on the well-being of three Asian elephants recently transferred from Malaysia.
The elephants: Kelat, a 20-year-old male, and two females, Dara, 14, and Amoi, 9, arrived in Japan on March 11 and were officially introduced to the public on April 21.
According to the update, Klatt has shown a strong personality, with keepers describing him as having “clear assertiveness, but also a highly affectionate and dependent nature”.
Although male Asian elephants typically become solitary in adulthood, Klatt has reportedly shown a strong preference for staying close to the two females.
As a result, all three are currently housed together in the “Elephant Home”, a facility originally designed for the females.
The zoo said it will continue to adjust the elephants’ living arrangements based on their behaviour, with the animals possibly housed together or separately at different times of the day.
Dara has been described as a “careful and responsible” elephant, frequently observing her surroundings and monitoring changes in the environment and the behaviour of keepers.
She has also taken on a protective role toward Amoi, often ensuring the younger elephant follows safely during movement and remaining alert from behind.
Despite her calm demeanour, staff said Dara has shown a more dependent and affectionate side toward Malaysian handlers, suggesting she is still adjusting to the new environment.
Keepers said they hope Dara will gradually become more comfortable with her surroundings in Japan.
Amoi, the youngest of the three, is also adjusting to the new environment as part of what staff described as an ongoing integration process.
The zoo acknowledged that the transition remains a learning phase for both the elephants and caretakers, and said efforts are being made to ensure their long-term welfare and stability.
Staff also highlighted a notable moment shortly after the elephants began sharing the new “Elephant Home”, which was designed to allow herd members to stay together overnight.
On their first night together, the elephants were seen lying down and sleeping side by side — a behaviour considered rare, as elephants typically sleep standing and lie down only when they feel fully secure.
A staff member described the moment as deeply moving, saying it reflected a strong sense of trust and comfort among the animals.
They said Klatt’s presence sometimes disrupted the sleep of the two females, prompting adjustments to their sleeping arrangements. He is now often placed in an adjacent space where physical contact remains possible.
Despite the changes, keepers said Dara and Amoi continue to rest together regularly, describing it as a positive sign of adaptation to their new environment.
