Maran Perianen
They respond to their names in Malay. They were raised by Malaysian mahouts. They grew up eating tropical fruit in the rainforest heat of Perak. And since March 2026, Dara, Amoi and Kelat have been living in a concrete enclosure at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan — under a deal that commits them to remain there for 25 years.
Over 87,500 Malaysians have signed a petition demanding their return. One man ran 290km from Taiping to Parliament to make the government listen.
The issue has reached the Dewan Rakyat. And it all began with three rescued elephants that most Malaysians had never heard of until they were already gone.
Who Are Dara, Amoi and Kelat?
The three elephants are Asian elephants — a species listed under CITES Appendix I, the highest level of international wildlife protection. Two of the three came from Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Pahang, a federally funded conservation facility. They were previously housed at Taiping Zoo and Night Safari under a conservation programme before their transfer to Japan.
Dara, 14, is described as careful and responsible, frequently watching over her surroundings and looking after the younger Amoi like an elder sister. Amoi, nine, is the liveliest of the three — playful, curious and fond of rolling in mud, tossing sand and adorning herself with dry grass. The zoo noted she is also quick to grab her favourite food before the older elephants can get to it.
Kelat is a 20-year-old male and the largest of the three. Male Asian elephants of his age typically prefer to live alone rather than in herds. Tennoji Zoo built a dedicated “Elephant House” where males can live separately, but it seems Kelat was lonely and wanted to be in the company of Dara and Amoi. He is described as firm yet affectionate — assertive, but also a bit of a spoiled child.
All three are named. All three have distinct personalities. All three have handlers who have known them for years. They are Asian elephants in a country with an estimated 2,351 to 3,066 wild Asian elephants remaining. Malaysia’s own wild elephant population is under pressure from deforestation, infrastructure development and human-wildlife conflict. That makes every elephant a matter of conservation significance.
How did they end up in Japan?
Officials from the Perak state government stated that the transfer had been ongoing since 2022, involving Taiping Zoo and Night Safari, Tennoji Zoo and Perhilitan — Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Before the elephants were sent, officials from the Taiping Municipal Council, Taiping Zoo and Perhilitan visited Osaka from October 6 to 10, 2022, to assess the existing facilities and identify the improvements needed by Tennoji Zoo. All relevant documentation — special permits, export applications, and responses to Japanese authorities — was properly approved before the elephants were transported.
Four elephants were originally considered for the transfer — Dara, Ayu, Amoi and Kelat — but Ayu was ultimately not included. Nobody has publicly explained why.
The elephants departed Malaysia on approximately March 10, 2026, for Tennoji Zoo in Osaka under a sister zoo agreement involving Taiping Zoo, the Taiping Municipal Council, and Perhilitan. The transfer proceeded despite a petition exceeding 28,619 signatures at the time. By April, that number had surpassed 87,500 and continued to grow. As of today it garnered more than 170,000 signatures.
What is the 25-year deal?
The elephants are housed at Tennoji Zoo under a 25-year international cooperation agreement between the two zoos, with the Taiping Municipal Council acting as representative for Taiping Zoo.
Under the agreement, the first, third and fifth calves born will belong to Tennoji Zoo. The second, fourth and sixth calves will belong to Taiping Zoo. The Perak government has described this as part of a conservation collaboration requiring a suitable long-term timeframe.
Critics, however, have raised pointed questions about this arrangement. Campaigners described the 25-year term as “too long” and akin to “life imprisonment.” Neow Choo Seong, coordinator of the DAK Solidarity Secretariat, compared it unfavourably to Malaysia’s panda diplomacy programme with China, which operates on a five-year review basis.
The full copy of the agreement has not been made public. The Taiping Municipal Council said the agreement is classified as confidential and subject to legal and professional obligations between both parties. This lack of transparency has been among the most consistent complaints from welfare groups and the public alike.
What does Tennoji Zoo say?
Tennoji Zoo, for its part, has been open about the elephants’ arrival and adjustment. A staff member at the zoo wrote: “After years of eagerly waiting for their arrival, the elephants have finally made it to Japan. Words cannot express how grateful I am that they have come.”
The elephants were reportedly eating well, showing a clear fondness for apples and bananas, while unanimously rejecting cabbage. Social dynamics among the trio have also begun to emerge. While Kelat and Amoi took to the water quickly, Dara initially hesitated before eventually joining in. All three were later observed bathing together.
Interestingly, the zoo noted that the elephants appeared startled by egrets flying overhead, suggesting they may not have encountered large birds frequently in their previous environment in Malaysia.
The Taiping Municipal Council also reported significant weight gains for all three elephants. Dara recorded an increase of 235kg, Amoi gained 220kg, and Kelat — the largest — recorded the highest increase at 460kg. Officials cited these numbers as evidence of good health and proper care.
Why are Malaysians not convinced?
Weight gain alone has not settled the debate. Neow said weight gain should not be taken as a full indicator of wellbeing, stressing that elephant welfare must also be measured through behaviour, mobility, stress levels and enclosure conditions.
“They need green surroundings, they need temperatures similar to our own climate. Given their size, they should not be standing or walking on hard cement ground. They need natural soil. Imagine three-tonne elephants living daily on concrete surfaces. How would that affect their feet over time?”
One video circulated online showing Dara, Amoi and Kelat responding to their names in Malay. Another reportedly showed one of the elephants appearing to weep. Whether that reflected genuine distress or a natural physiological response is disputed — but the videos spread widely and deepened public concern.
Furthermore, Tennoji Zoo has documented welfare concerns spanning nearly two decades in independent visitor reviews and welfare organisation reports. Japan has no national legislation specifically governing zoo welfare standards. JAZA, the Japanese zoo association, has no formal accreditation or sanctioning process.
What happens now?
On June 22, 2026, a memorandum calling for the return of Dara, Amoi and Kelat was presented to Ayer Hitam MP Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong at Parliament. Dr Wee said he would continue raising the issue in Parliament and press for greater attention to the welfare of the three elephants.
Meanwhile, Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said the process of bringing the elephants home cannot be rushed as it involves several procedures that must be followed.
“It’s not a case of deciding today and bringing them back tomorrow. There is also an existing agreement between Zoo Taiping and Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo. So the matter needs to be carefully considered and assessed,” he said.
Neow himself has been careful to say any decision on their return must be grounded in evidence-based welfare evaluations rather than emotion alone. “The public reaction is understandable — everyone is using the hashtag #KembalikanDAK because they want DAK brought home. But personally, this has to be science-based and evidence-based, not a call to bring them back immediately.”
Dara, Amoi and Kelat remain in Osaka. They are eating well. They have gained weight. They responded to their Malay names in a Japanese zoo. And the question of whether they should come home — and whether they can — remains, for now, unanswered.
Citizens Journal Malaysia covers wildlife, community and civic stories across Malaysia. Have a tip or a story? Email [email protected]
Sashidaran Gunathevan
CJMY
Yalinie Mathan
Add comment