Pahang: Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced plans to meet with Taiping Zoo and Night Safari officials to address concerns surrounding three elephants, Dara, Amoi, and Kelat, currently housed at Tennoji Zoo in Japan. The meeting aims to gather further clarification and explore effective measures to facilitate the return of these elephants to Malaysia, amid growing concerns regarding their welfare in a four-season climate.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Rosdy emphasized the urgency of this meeting, expressing the intent to conduct it sooner than a similar discussion planned by the Perak state government. Highlighting the potential welfare risks to the elephants, he urged for public support to influence the decision-making process favorably. The statement was made following his appearance on the Ruang Bicara program produced by Bernama TV at Wisma Bernama.

Previously, Wan Rosdy advocated for the immediate repatriation of the elephants to the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Temerloh, a location deemed more suitable for their habitat needs. This call was supported by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, who stressed that the agreement under which the elephants were sent to Japan should be reconsidered if it no longer aligns with conservation principles and wildlife welfare.

Last Friday, Perak Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching announced an upcoming meeting with relevant stakeholders to thoroughly deliberate on the relocation of the elephants.