IPOH: The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) have been urged to immediately conduct comprehensive health checks on elephants Dara, Amoi and Kelat.
MCA Youth information chief and Barisan Nasional Youth Communications director Neow Choo Seong said the latest reports of Kelat’s significant weight loss were worrying and warranted an independent assessment of the three elephants.
The elephants- Dara, 14, Amoi, nine, and Kelat, 20, collectively known as DAK were transferred to Tennoji Zoo in Japan under the Malaysian Elephant Conservation Programme for breeding and research purposes on March 11.
Neow said an independent Malaysian veterinary team should be sent to Tennoji Zoo within 14 days to conduct unrestricted physical examinations.
“The assessment should include their body weight, physical condition, skin, eyes, legs and nails to verify claims that Kelat has become significantly thinner compared with when he was first brought from Malaysia.
“Also comprehensive blood tests, cortisol hormone tests to assess stress levels, and parasite screening must be carried out.
“This would establish whether the reported musth is genuine musth or a symptom of illness and chronic stress,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Sept 17).
Neow said the welfare of the elephants environment should also be assessed, including the size of their enclosure, flooring, daily diet and duration of isolation.
“A healthy elephant should not need to be repeatedly isolated within a month,” he said.
He also called for the findings of the health examinations, including video recordings and laboratory results, to be made public and assessed by independent international elephant experts.
Neow further urged MPT and NRES to review and disclose details of the placement agreement with Tennoji Zoo, particularly clauses relating to repatriation and termination.
“Do not hide behind contract confidentiality,” he said.
He said NRES should honour its April 29 pledge to activate the process of bringing the elephants back to their natural habitat if Tennoji Zoo failed to meet the demands or if examinations showed deterioration in their health and welfare.
Neow also said Malaysians were awaiting the outcome of a full investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into the DAK case.
He said four individuals had previously been reported to have been detained by the MACC, but no court charges had been brought so far.
“Animal welfare must not be compromised on the grounds of diplomacy or bureaucracy. DAK are a national treasure,” he said.
Neow had completed a 250km solidarity run on June 22 to raise public awareness about their (DAK) welfare.
