“Why Are You Doing This To Our Elephants?” — Activists Respond To Latest Video Of DAK In Osaka Zoo

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A viral video showing Malaysian elephants Dara and Amoi standing close to a wall for shade at Osaka's Tennoji Zoo has renewed concerns about the conditions in which they are kept

The video was taken from a livestream by TikTok user Cik Moji, who could be heard crying as she filmed the two elephants crowding into a narrow strip of shade beside a wall at Tennoji Zoo.

The video shows much of the open enclosure was exposed to the sun, with many of the visitors using umbrellas as they toured the zoo, suggesting hot weather in Osaka on that day.

"Kenapa buat macam ini kat gajah kami? (Why are you doing this to our elephants?)" Cik Moji asked through tears.

The footage has renewed concerns about the conditions faced by Dara, Amoi, and Kelat (DAK), the three elephants from Malaysia transferred to the Japanese zoo in March.

Speaking to SAYS, Norashikin Che Omar, an advisor to the Malaysian Animal Welfare Society (Shelter Ihsan), said the video brought back concerns she said advocates had raised long before summer arrived.

"Actually, it is not surprising, because we have been questioning this matter for a long time," she said.

You can watch the video here:

Norashikin said advocates were told that a mechanical roof had been built.

However, she questioned whether a single structure, positioned high above the ground, could provide enough shade for the elephants.

"Regarding that mechanical roof, firstly, it is built very high, and secondly, there is only one. So, it is not effective for our elephants.

"They really have to find a cool, shaded place. That is all they can get," she said.

Sharing assessment reports of Tennoji Zoo's suitability for elephants conducted by elephant specialist Dr William Keith Lindsay, animal activist Datin Shereen Yunos shared similar concerns.

"From my understanding of the video, the elephants were clearly looking for shelter from the scorching hot sun," Shereen told SAYS.

She said the wall's shadow appeared to offer the two females relief that the wider enclosure could not.

"There is a canopy, but it's really very small. And there's hardly any protection from the sun. So it's basically just a parasol," she shared.

Both activists said elephants require adequate shelter, including trees and vegetation that provide natural cover, as well as opportunities to cool themselves

Norashikin explained that elephants seek shade, as well as love to soak in water and cover themselves with mud to cool their bodies. She questioned whether those options were sufficiently available at Tennoji Zoo.

She also described a past video in which Kelat appeared to test a pool with its foot before quickly withdrawing it.

"There was a video where Kelat put his foot in the pool and lifted it right back up. It was as if he was shocked by the water temperature," she said.

Shereen's concerns about the pool went beyond temperature. She described the water as dirty and questioned whether the pool was large and deep enough for the elephants to immerse themselves and float, relieving their feet of their weight.

"Unfortunately, the pond in their enclosure is way too small. Secondly, it's not deep enough that they can float.

"Whereas in the rivers, they actually float, so their legs dangle, and they are given some sort of relief from carrying all that heavy weight," she explained.

Shereen also stressed the importance of mud baths, saying she had not seen a suitable area for them in the enclosure.

"Elephants usually enjoy mud baths because that is a form of skin protection for them," she said.

When asked what would make the elephants' lives comfortable at Tennoji Zoo, Shereen said her opinion extended beyond changes to the pool and roof.

"No elephant belongs in a zoo. To keep them imprisoned in a concrete enclosure such as Tennoji's, devoid of any natural surroundings as their habitat, is pure cruelty in my opinion," she said.

Both activists referred to welfare assessments by Lindsay in explaining their concerns

Shereen said past videos had been sent to Lindsay for assessment, resulting in two reports that identified distress and recommended returning the elephants to Malaysia.

According to Malaysiakini's June report, Lindsay assessed the enclosure as spanning approximately 1,612 sq m. The report said this met Japanese association minimum requirements, but was considerably smaller than the 20,000 sq m recommended in Britain for up to four elephants.

His assessment also criticised the enclosure's artificial environment and lack of vegetation, shade, and mud.

Shereen said she had forwarded Lindsay's welfare findings to the government and sought a meeting with its leadership.

"I have repeatedly asked to meet with them for a discussion, but I have not been given a time or date to do so," she said.

The latest video comes amid a separate controversy over Kelat's weight loss

In a statement last week, the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) acknowledged that the male elephant had lost about 100kg. It attributed the loss to musth, a natural hormonal phase in adult male elephants, which it said Kelat had been experiencing since 18 August.

The council said Kelat remained active, cooperated during training, and responded well to keepers. It added that Tennoji Zoo was monitoring signs including temporal gland secretions and urine dribbling, and urged the public to consider his overall condition rather than a single photograph.

Norashikin questioned whether the explanation sufficiently accounted for the repeated concerns about Kelat's appearance, separation from the females, and the purported musth timeline.

"Regarding this musth process, I am also confused. How many times has he been isolated? How many times is he going to go through that phase?" she asked.

"And regarding losing up to 100kg, I could accept it if it was during that phase. But if it (the musth phase) happens too frequently, I think something is not right.

"You have to come with facts. Show us the facts about why he became like that," she added.

Besides the elephants' welfare, there is also an investigation into the circumstances of their transfer

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced in June that it was investigating alleged irregularities, including claims that payments linked to the transfer had not been channelled to the government, as well as whether elements of corruption, abuse of power, or misappropriation had occurred.

Wildlife advocacy group Hidup had raised allegations from a whistleblower that the transactions amounted to an estimated RM53 million.

In July, MACC said it had found no evidence of suspicious fund transfers or financial transactions involving a former minister or companies associated with him. Investigations involving four other individuals were still ongoing at the time, reported Bernama.

When asked whether there have been any further updates beyond the announcement that Nik Nazmi had been cleared, Hidup lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan told SAYS, "No update at all. MACC is just keeping very silent."

Shereen similarly said advocates are still seeking answers

"We are still seeking an update from them because I think as the Malaysian public, we deserve to know what the findings are," she said.

NRES has said it was not a signatory to the agreements governing the elephants' placement, adding that the arrangement was between Tennoji Zoo and Zoo Taiping & Night Safari, represented by MPT.

The federal government has urged the zoo management to discuss mechanisms for returning the elephants if their placement no longer meets conservation and welfare principles, reported Bernama.

In response to earlier concerns in May, MPT said its representatives, zoo officials, and Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) officers had visited Osaka in October 2022 to assess the facilities and identify improvements before the elephants' transfer. It also said the required permits and approvals were obtained before the transfer, reported New Straits Times

But Shereen and Norashikin told SAYS they have not seen any official assessment establishing that the enclosure is safe for Dara, Amoi, and Kelat in their current circumstances.

For Shereen, that requires an independent examination of the elephants' wellbeing.

"The assessment for wellbeing should be done by an independent, verified expert," she said.

SAYS has reached out to Tennoji Zoo, MPT, PERHILITAN, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Ministry, and the MACC for comment on the latest video and updates on the investigation, but has yet to receive a response.