Home / Environment / Malaysia Demands Elephants Back from Japan Zoo
Malaysia Demands Elephants Back from Japan Zoo
5 Jul
Summary
- Malaysian criticism mounts for elephants sent to Osaka zoo.
- Online petition for elephant return gains over 170,000 signatures.
- Zoo invested $27.70 million in new elephant enclosure.
Mounting criticism in Malaysia calls for the return of three elephants transferred to Osaka Tennoji Zoo. While the zoo in Japan celebrated their arrival in April, a significant backlash has erupted in Malaysia, with online petitions demanding the elephants' repatriation exceeding 170,000 signatures. This outcry stems from long-held beliefs that urban zoos compromise animal welfare and that the elephants belong in their natural habitat.
Adding to the controversy, one elephant chipped a tusk shortly before public display, which critics denounced as animal abuse. Malaysian officials expressed concerns that Japan's climate is unsuitable for the elephants and indicated consideration for their return. However, Osaka Tennoji Zoo asserts that the elephants, rescued as young individuals, would not survive in the wild.
The zoo has invested approximately 4.5 billion yen (around $27.70 million) in a new 6,600-square-meter enclosure, designed to meet strict international standards. Experts suggest that a lack of clear communication about the conservation program in Malaysia is also a factor, urging a shift for zoos to actively engage in conservation alongside the public.
