AN MCA Youth leader has called on the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) to immediately arrange an independent health assessment of Malaysian elephants Dara, Amoi and Kelat (DAK) in Japan following growing concerns over Kelat’s reported physical deterioration.
The three elephants were transferred from Zoo Taiping & Night Safari to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka on March 11 this year under a conservation arrangement that has attracted sustained public scrutiny over their welfare.
The party’s information chief, Neow Choo Seong said recent reports and public observations suggesting Kelat had suffered significant weight loss should be independently verified through a comprehensive veterinary examination.
“It has been almost three months since I completed the 250km Solo Solidarity Run for DAK, and Malaysians have continued to follow the elephants’ welfare closely,” he said.
“The reported changes in Kelat’s condition warrant immediate verification through an independent professional assessment.”
Neow urged MPT and NRES to send a qualified Malaysian veterinary team to Tennoji Zoo within 14 days, with full access to the elephants and their welfare records.
He said the assessment should include body weight, body condition, skin, eyes, feet and nails, alongside comparisons with previous health records to determine whether Kelat’s condition had significantly deteriorated.
He also called for blood tests, stress-related assessments such as cortisol testing where appropriate, and parasite screening to establish whether Kelat’s reported condition was consistent with normal musth-related changes or indicated underlying health or chronic stress concerns.
The review, he added, should extend beyond the elephants themselves to include an independent assessment of their enclosure size and design, flooring, environmental enrichment, diet, veterinary care and any prolonged periods of isolation.
Neow also called for greater transparency, urging the authorities to make the health assessment findings public, subject to legitimate veterinary and privacy considerations, and to have them reviewed by independent international elephant welfare specialists.
He further urged MPT and NRES to disclose and review the placement agreement between Zoo Taiping & Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo, particularly provisions relating to animal welfare, monitoring, repatriation and exit mechanisms.
NRES has previously said that if the arrangement no longer aligns with conservation principles, wildlife welfare and prevailing sensitivities, the elephants’ return should be seriously considered.
“If Tennoji Zoo cannot provide satisfactory assurances and access for an independent assessment, or if credible medical evidence establishes deterioration in the health or welfare of any of the three elephants, NRES and MPT must activate the appropriate mechanism to bring DAK home,” Neow stressed.
“This is no longer simply a matter of public concern or social media debate. Their welfare must be established through independent evidence, transparency and professional veterinary assessment.”
The transfer has also become the subject of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigation.
Four individuals, including a PERHILITAN officer, a former zoo director and two company owners, were previously detained as part of the probe, with NRES pledging full cooperation with investigators.
Neow said the authorities should not allow the issue to fade from public attention, warning that every day of delay leaves questions surrounding the elephants’ health and welfare unanswered. ‒ Sept 18, 2026
Main image: NST
