The agreement involving the transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan’s Tennoji Zoo is strictly a zoo-to-zoo cooperation and does not involve any commercial transaction, according to the Taiping Municipal Council.
The elephants — Dara, Amoi and Kelat (collectively known as DAK) — were part of a long-term arrangement between Zoo Taiping & Night Safari (ZTNS) and Tennoji Zoo Osaka (TZO).
Taiping Municipal Council president Mohamed Akmal Dahalan said the use of the term “business-to-business” (B2B) was inaccurate and did not reflect the spirit of the agreement.
“The term B2B does not accurately describe the nature of the agreement signed,” he said in a statement on Friday.
He clarified that the cooperation had been misrepresented on social media, with claims suggesting financial payments were involved between ZTNS and the council, or that the arrangement breached regulations and laws.
Mohamed Akmal said the international collaboration followed the Standard Zoo Malaysia Guidelines under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and complied with the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010.
He added that before the elephants were transferred, officials from MPT, ZTNS and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) conducted a site visit to Osaka between October 6 and 10, 2022, to assess facilities and required improvements.
All necessary documentation, including special permits and export approvals, were obtained prior to the transfer, he said.
“The welfare and well-being of the animals remain the top priority throughout this programme,” he stressed.
He also said ZTNS would continue engaging with TZO and relevant agencies for updates on the elephants’ condition.
Mohamed Akmal added that the council is ready to cooperate with any authorities, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), should any further review or investigation be required.
The three elephants are currently housed at Tennoji Zoo under a 25-year cooperation agreement between the Japanese zoo and ZTNS, which is represented by the Taiping Municipal Council.
The arrangement has recently drawn public attention after some activists and NGOs called for the elephants’ return to Malaysia, alleging concerns over their welfare and suitability of conditions at the Japanese facility.
