Taiping: The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) has emphasized that any claims regarding the neglect of elephants' welfare at Tennoji Zoo in Japan must be substantiated with reasonable evidence before considering the termination of the cooperation programme or initiating the repatriation process. MPT President Mohamed Akmal Dahalan highlighted that decisions to terminate the programme cannot be made unilaterally and must adhere to the terms and provisions stipulated in the agreement between the involved parties.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamed Akmal stated that the process of returning the elephants or ending the cooperation can only proceed based on thorough assessments and clear evidence of agreement breaches, particularly concerning animal welfare. He underscored that any decision related to terminating the cooperation programme, including the return of the elephants or the implementation of repatriation, must be grounded in clear evidence of breaches.
Mohamed Akmal also outlined the zoo's responsibilities, which include ensuring the elephants' welfare, health, nutrition, veterinary treatment, safety, and daily management in accordance with international standards and best practices. Additionally, Tennoji Zoo is required to continuously implement environmental enrichment programmes and comply with prohibitions against activities that could compromise animal welfare or involve hybridisation.
The MPT, along with relevant agencies, retains the right to conduct periodic audits and monitoring to ensure full compliance with all agreement terms. These monitoring mechanisms are supported through Joint Committee Meetings held periodically and the zoo's obligation to provide annual reports on the elephants' health condition and management.
Addressing transparency concerns, Mohamed Akmal noted that the agreement's full copy cannot be publicly disclosed due to its classification as a confidential official government document, subject to legal and professional obligations. However, MPT is prepared to cooperate fully with any investigating authority requiring access to the document.
He further explained that the agreement's contents were crafted following a comprehensive review, referencing the Animal Welfare Act 2015, the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, the Malaysian National Elephant Conservation Action Plan, and international guidelines by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Currently, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation of the Malaysian Parliament is examining the issue, including planning a visit to Japan for review and information gathering.