Protect Malaysia's Elephants: A Call for Ethical Protection, Welfare & Conservation
The Issue
English Version below.
Lindungi Gajah Malaysia: Seruan Nasional untuk Memperkasa Perlindungan, Kebajikan dan Pemuliharaan Gajah Secara Beretika
Kepada:
YB DATO' SRI ARTHUR JOSEPH KURUP, Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES)
Kami, rakyat Malaysia yang bertandatangan di bawah ini, menyeru Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk memperkukuh perlindungan, kebajikan dan pemuliharaan gajah Asia negara ini melalui dasar berasaskan sains, pengurusan yang beretika serta penguatkuasaan sepenuhnya undang-undang sedia ada.
Kematian tragis seekor anak gajah di Mersing, Johor pada 1.7.2026, ketika ibunya enggan meninggalkan sisi anaknya, sekali lagi telah mengundang kesedihan dan menyentuh hati rakyat Malaysia. Laporan mengenai kelewatan tindak balas kecemasan dan rawatan veterinar turut menimbulkan kebimbangan serius terhadap tahap kesiapsiagaan negara dalam menangani kecemasan melibatkan hidupan liar. Tragedi ini berlaku hanya setahun selepas seekor lagi anak gajah maut akibat dilanggar kenderaan pada Hari Ibu. Malangnya, kejadian-kejadian ini bukanlah insiden terpencil, sebaliknya mencerminkan krisis yang semakin meruncing yang dihadapi gajah Malaysia, sama ada di habitat semula jadi mahupun di bawah jagaan manusia.
Gajah Asia (Elephas maximus) diiktiraf sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya di bawah Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010 (Akta 716). Bersama-sama Akta Kebajikan Haiwan 2015 (Akta 772) serta komitmen Malaysia di bawah Konvensyen Perdagangan Antarabangsa Mengenai Spesies Terancam Flora dan Fauna Liar (CITES), undang-undang dan komitmen ini mewajibkan gajah diurus dengan cara yang menjamin kebajikan, maruah serta kelangsungan pemuliharaan spesies ini untuk jangka panjang.
Walaupun dilindungi oleh undang-undang, gajah di Malaysia masih berdepan pelbagai ancaman akibat aktiviti manusia, antaranya:
- kehilangan dan pemecahan habitat,
- konflik manusia-gajah yang semakin meningkat,
- kematian akibat pelanggaran jalan raya, kelewatan tindak balas kecemasan terhadap hidupan liar yang cedera,
- eksploitasi komersial melalui persembahan, aktiviti pelancongan, majlis persendirian serta bentuk hiburan lain
- pembiakan dalam kurungan yang tidak menyumbang secara nyata kepada pemuliharaan, pemindahan gajah ke zoo atau ke luar negara yang mengabaikan kebajikan serta kehidupan semula jadi mereka.
Antara tahun 2021 hingga Mei 2026, PERHILITAN merekodkan lebih 76,000 aduan konflik manusia-hidupan liar di seluruh negara, manakala lebih 2,300 ekor hidupan liar maut akibat pelanggaran jalan raya antara tahun 2020 hingga 2024. Statistik ini menunjukkan keperluan mendesak untuk satu strategi nasional yang lebih menyeluruh bagi melindungi gajah dan habitatnya.
Malaysia telah pun mengiktiraf gajah Asia sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya. Kini tiba masanya dasar, amalan dan institusi awam benar-benar mencerminkan semangat perlindungan yang telah termaktub dalam undang-undang.
Sehubungan itu, kami menyeru Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mengambil tindakan berikut:
- Memperkukuh perlindungan habitat gajah dan mengurangkan kematian hidupan liar di jalan raya.
Kenal pasti kawasan panas (hotspot) kemalangan hidupan liar, membina lintasan hidupan liar dan pagar keselamatan, menambah baik reka bentuk jalan raya, menguatkuasakan had laju di kawasan berisiko, memperkukuh sistem tindak balas kecemasan bagi hidupan liar yang cedera serta memastikan semua projek pembangunan baharu mengintegrasikan perancangan infrastruktur yang mesra hidupan liar dan mengekalkan kesinambungan koridor ekologi - Menamatkan eksploitasi komersial terhadap gajah yang berstatus Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya.
Menamatkan secara berperingkat penggunaan gajah untuk persembahan, aksi, tunggangan, majlis persendirian serta apa jua bentuk hiburan komersial di kemudahan kerajaan mahupun swasta. Aktiviti pemuliharaan hendaklah memberi keutamaan kepada pendidikan, kebajikan dan tingkah laku semula jadi gajah, bukannya hiburan atau tarikan komersial. - Mewujudkan piawaian kebajikan gajah di peringkat kebangsaan.
Menggubal dan menguatkuasakan piawaian kebajikan berasaskan bukti saintifik yang mengutamakan keperluan fizikal, tingkah laku dan psikologi gajah, serta membolehkan gajah mempamerkan tingkah laku semula jadi dengan campur tangan manusia pada tahap minimum. - Menamatkan pembiakan gajah dalam kurungan kecuali bagi tujuan pemuliharaan yang benar-benar mempunyai justifikasi saintifik.
Pembiakan dalam kurungan hanya wajar dilaksanakan sekiranya ia terbukti menyumbang kepada program pemuliharaan yang diiktiraf dan kelangsungan spesies untuk jangka panjang, bukannya bagi meningkatkan populasi gajah dalam kurungan untuk tujuan pameran, pelancongan atau kepentingan komersial. - Mengekalkan gajah di habitat semula jadi mereka apabila keadaan membenarkan.
Sedaya mungkin, gajah Malaysia hendaklah terus berada dalam landskap semula jadi yang dilindungi supaya mereka dapat memainkan peranan ekologi serta menyumbang kepada kelangsungan populasi liar yang sihat. Pemindahan ke zoo atau ke luar negara hanya wajar dipertimbangkan dalam keadaan luar biasa yang benar-benar berasaskan kepentingan pemuliharaan atau kebajikan. - Memperkukuh ketelusan, akauntabiliti dan usaha hidup bersama secara harmoni.
Menerbitkan laporan tahunan mengenai kematian gajah, insiden pelanggaran jalan raya, pemindahan gajah, penilaian kebajikan serta program pembiakan, di samping meningkatkan pelaburan dalam pemulihan habitat, mitigasi konflik manusia-gajah, pendidikan masyarakat dan sistem amaran awal bagi membolehkan manusia dan gajah hidup bersama secara lebih selamat.
Kami menyeru para pemimpin negara agar menunjukkan keprihatinan, keberanian dan iltizam politik dengan meletakkan perlindungan, kebajikan dan pemuliharaan gajah secara beretika sebagai keutamaan dalam dasar negara.
Sama ada hidup bebas di habitat semula jadi atau berada di bawah jagaan manusia, setiap gajah yang dilindungi sepenuhnya di Malaysia berhak menikmati kehidupan yang berlandaskan maruah, kebajikan, ihsan, sains dan amalan pemuliharaan terbaik, dengan peluang untuk hidup bebas mengikut fitrah semula jadi mereka apabila keadaan mengizinkan, bukannya dinilai berdasarkan nilai komersial atau hiburan. . Cara kita melayan gajah mencerminkan nilai, integriti dan komitmen Malaysia terhadap pemuliharaan alam semula jadi.
Malaysia telah mengiktiraf gajah Asia sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya. Kini tiba masanya dasar, amalan dan tindakan kita benar-benar mencerminkan komitmen tersebut.
Lindungilah Gajah Malaysia. Lindungilah warisan semula jadi kita.
Yang benar,
Rakyat Malaysia yang Prihatin
English Version
To:
YB DATO' SRI ARTHUR JOSEPH KURUP, The Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)
We, the undersigned citizens and friends of Malaysia, call upon the Federal Government to strengthen the protection, welfare and conservation of Malaysia's Asian elephants through science-based policies, ethical management and the full enforcement of existing laws.
The recent tragic death of an elephant calf in Mersing, Johor (1.7.2026), where its mother refused to leave her baby's side, has once again deeply saddened Malaysians. Reports of delays in emergency response and veterinary care have also raised serious concerns about the nation's preparedness to respond to wildlife emergencies. This tragedy occurred just one year after another baby elephant was killed in a road collision on Mother's Day in 2025. These are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a growing crisis facing Malaysia's elephants, both in the wild and under human care.
Malaysia's Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is recognised as Totally Protected Wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). Together with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) and Malaysia's commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), these legal protections require elephants to be managed in ways that safeguard their welfare, dignity and long-term conservation.
Despite these protections, Malaysia's elephants continue to face numerous human-induced threats, including:
- Habitat loss, fragmentation and shrinking wildlife corridors.
2. Increasing human-elephant conflict.
3. Wildlife road collisions and delays in emergency response for injured wildlife.
4. Commercial exploitation through performances, tourism, private functions and other forms of entertainment.
5. Captive breeding that does not demonstrably contribute to conservation.
6. The transfer of elephants to zoos or overseas facilities at the expense of their welfare and natural lives.
Between 2021 and May 2026, PERHILITAN recorded more than 76,000 human-wildlife conflict complaints nationwide, while more than 2,300 wild animals were killed in road collisions between 2020 and 2024. These figures highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy to better protect elephants and their habitats.
Elephants are sentient beings. They are highly intelligent, emotionally complex and deeply social animals that form lifelong family bonds, grieve their dead and play a vital role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. They are not performers, tourist attractions or commodities. They deserve to live as naturally as possible, with dignity and respect.
Conservation facilities should exist to protect wildlife, rehabilitate injured animals, advance scientific research and educate the public and not to stage performances, entertain visitors, host private functions or commercialise Totally Protected wildlife.
Where necessary, working elephants may continue to play carefully managed roles in legitimate conservation activities such as wildlife rescue, veterinary care, habitat management and human-elephant conflict mitigation. However, they should never be exploited for entertainment or commercial gain.
Malaysia has already recognised the Asian elephant as Totally Protected Wildlife. It is now time for our policies, practices and public institutions to reflect the spirit of that protection.
We therefore call upon the Federal Government to:
1. Strengthen the protection of elephant habitats and reduce wildlife roadkill.
Identify wildlife collision hotspots, construct wildlife crossings and safety fencing, improve road design, enforce lower speed limits in high-risk areas, strengthen emergency response for injured wildlife, and ensure that all future development projects incorporate wildlife-friendly infrastructure and ecological connectivity.
2. End the commercial exploitation of Totally Protected elephants.
Phase out the use of elephants for performances, tricks, rides, private functions and all other forms of commercial entertainment at both government and private facilities. Conservation should prioritise education, welfare and the expression of natural behaviours—not spectacle or commercial attraction.
3. Establish national elephant welfare standards.
Develop and enforce evidence-based welfare standards that prioritise elephants' physical, behavioural and psychological needs while allowing them to express their natural behaviours with minimal human interference.
4. End captive breeding unless scientifically justified for conservation.
Captive breeding should only occur where it demonstrably contributes to recognised conservation programmes and the long-term survival of the species—not to increase captive populations for exhibition, tourism or commercial purposes.
5. Keep elephants in their natural habitats whenever possible.
Wherever circumstances permit, Malaysia's elephants should remain in protected natural landscapes where they can fulfil their ecological role and contribute to healthy wild populations. Translocation to zoos or overseas facilities should occur only under exceptional circumstances that are clearly justified on conservation or welfare grounds.
6. Strengthen transparency, accountability and human-elephant coexistence.
Publish annual reports on elephant mortality, roadkill incidents, translocations, welfare assessments and breeding programmes, while investing in habitat restoration, human-elephant conflict mitigation, public education and early-warning systems that enable people and elephants to coexist more safely.
Malaysia's elephants are more than a protected species. They are architects of our forests, essential seed dispersers, part of our shared natural heritage and a national treasure that must be safeguarded for future generations. How we choose to treat them reflects our values, our integrity and our commitment to conservation.
We call upon our nation's leaders to demonstrate compassion, courage and political will by making ethical elephant protection, welfare and conservation a national priority.
Whether living freely in the wild or under human care, every elephant in Malaysia deserves a life guided by dignity, welfare, compassion, science and best conservation practices, with the opportunity to live naturally whenever possible and not to be valued for commercial or entertainment purposes.
Let these tragedies become the turning point.
Malaysia has already recognised the Asian elephant as Totally Protected Wildlife. It is now time for our policies, practices and actions to honour that commitment.
Protect Malaysia's Elephants. Protect Our Natural Heritage.
Sincerely,
Concerned Rakyat
3,348
The Issue
English Version below.
Lindungi Gajah Malaysia: Seruan Nasional untuk Memperkasa Perlindungan, Kebajikan dan Pemuliharaan Gajah Secara Beretika
Kepada:
YB DATO' SRI ARTHUR JOSEPH KURUP, Menteri Sumber Asli dan Kelestarian Alam (NRES)
Kami, rakyat Malaysia yang bertandatangan di bawah ini, menyeru Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk memperkukuh perlindungan, kebajikan dan pemuliharaan gajah Asia negara ini melalui dasar berasaskan sains, pengurusan yang beretika serta penguatkuasaan sepenuhnya undang-undang sedia ada.
Kematian tragis seekor anak gajah di Mersing, Johor pada 1.7.2026, ketika ibunya enggan meninggalkan sisi anaknya, sekali lagi telah mengundang kesedihan dan menyentuh hati rakyat Malaysia. Laporan mengenai kelewatan tindak balas kecemasan dan rawatan veterinar turut menimbulkan kebimbangan serius terhadap tahap kesiapsiagaan negara dalam menangani kecemasan melibatkan hidupan liar. Tragedi ini berlaku hanya setahun selepas seekor lagi anak gajah maut akibat dilanggar kenderaan pada Hari Ibu. Malangnya, kejadian-kejadian ini bukanlah insiden terpencil, sebaliknya mencerminkan krisis yang semakin meruncing yang dihadapi gajah Malaysia, sama ada di habitat semula jadi mahupun di bawah jagaan manusia.
Gajah Asia (Elephas maximus) diiktiraf sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya di bawah Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010 (Akta 716). Bersama-sama Akta Kebajikan Haiwan 2015 (Akta 772) serta komitmen Malaysia di bawah Konvensyen Perdagangan Antarabangsa Mengenai Spesies Terancam Flora dan Fauna Liar (CITES), undang-undang dan komitmen ini mewajibkan gajah diurus dengan cara yang menjamin kebajikan, maruah serta kelangsungan pemuliharaan spesies ini untuk jangka panjang.
Walaupun dilindungi oleh undang-undang, gajah di Malaysia masih berdepan pelbagai ancaman akibat aktiviti manusia, antaranya:
- kehilangan dan pemecahan habitat,
- konflik manusia-gajah yang semakin meningkat,
- kematian akibat pelanggaran jalan raya, kelewatan tindak balas kecemasan terhadap hidupan liar yang cedera,
- eksploitasi komersial melalui persembahan, aktiviti pelancongan, majlis persendirian serta bentuk hiburan lain
- pembiakan dalam kurungan yang tidak menyumbang secara nyata kepada pemuliharaan, pemindahan gajah ke zoo atau ke luar negara yang mengabaikan kebajikan serta kehidupan semula jadi mereka.
Antara tahun 2021 hingga Mei 2026, PERHILITAN merekodkan lebih 76,000 aduan konflik manusia-hidupan liar di seluruh negara, manakala lebih 2,300 ekor hidupan liar maut akibat pelanggaran jalan raya antara tahun 2020 hingga 2024. Statistik ini menunjukkan keperluan mendesak untuk satu strategi nasional yang lebih menyeluruh bagi melindungi gajah dan habitatnya.
Malaysia telah pun mengiktiraf gajah Asia sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya. Kini tiba masanya dasar, amalan dan institusi awam benar-benar mencerminkan semangat perlindungan yang telah termaktub dalam undang-undang.
Sehubungan itu, kami menyeru Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk mengambil tindakan berikut:
- Memperkukuh perlindungan habitat gajah dan mengurangkan kematian hidupan liar di jalan raya.
Kenal pasti kawasan panas (hotspot) kemalangan hidupan liar, membina lintasan hidupan liar dan pagar keselamatan, menambah baik reka bentuk jalan raya, menguatkuasakan had laju di kawasan berisiko, memperkukuh sistem tindak balas kecemasan bagi hidupan liar yang cedera serta memastikan semua projek pembangunan baharu mengintegrasikan perancangan infrastruktur yang mesra hidupan liar dan mengekalkan kesinambungan koridor ekologi - Menamatkan eksploitasi komersial terhadap gajah yang berstatus Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya.
Menamatkan secara berperingkat penggunaan gajah untuk persembahan, aksi, tunggangan, majlis persendirian serta apa jua bentuk hiburan komersial di kemudahan kerajaan mahupun swasta. Aktiviti pemuliharaan hendaklah memberi keutamaan kepada pendidikan, kebajikan dan tingkah laku semula jadi gajah, bukannya hiburan atau tarikan komersial. - Mewujudkan piawaian kebajikan gajah di peringkat kebangsaan.
Menggubal dan menguatkuasakan piawaian kebajikan berasaskan bukti saintifik yang mengutamakan keperluan fizikal, tingkah laku dan psikologi gajah, serta membolehkan gajah mempamerkan tingkah laku semula jadi dengan campur tangan manusia pada tahap minimum. - Menamatkan pembiakan gajah dalam kurungan kecuali bagi tujuan pemuliharaan yang benar-benar mempunyai justifikasi saintifik.
Pembiakan dalam kurungan hanya wajar dilaksanakan sekiranya ia terbukti menyumbang kepada program pemuliharaan yang diiktiraf dan kelangsungan spesies untuk jangka panjang, bukannya bagi meningkatkan populasi gajah dalam kurungan untuk tujuan pameran, pelancongan atau kepentingan komersial. - Mengekalkan gajah di habitat semula jadi mereka apabila keadaan membenarkan.
Sedaya mungkin, gajah Malaysia hendaklah terus berada dalam landskap semula jadi yang dilindungi supaya mereka dapat memainkan peranan ekologi serta menyumbang kepada kelangsungan populasi liar yang sihat. Pemindahan ke zoo atau ke luar negara hanya wajar dipertimbangkan dalam keadaan luar biasa yang benar-benar berasaskan kepentingan pemuliharaan atau kebajikan. - Memperkukuh ketelusan, akauntabiliti dan usaha hidup bersama secara harmoni.
Menerbitkan laporan tahunan mengenai kematian gajah, insiden pelanggaran jalan raya, pemindahan gajah, penilaian kebajikan serta program pembiakan, di samping meningkatkan pelaburan dalam pemulihan habitat, mitigasi konflik manusia-gajah, pendidikan masyarakat dan sistem amaran awal bagi membolehkan manusia dan gajah hidup bersama secara lebih selamat.
Kami menyeru para pemimpin negara agar menunjukkan keprihatinan, keberanian dan iltizam politik dengan meletakkan perlindungan, kebajikan dan pemuliharaan gajah secara beretika sebagai keutamaan dalam dasar negara.
Sama ada hidup bebas di habitat semula jadi atau berada di bawah jagaan manusia, setiap gajah yang dilindungi sepenuhnya di Malaysia berhak menikmati kehidupan yang berlandaskan maruah, kebajikan, ihsan, sains dan amalan pemuliharaan terbaik, dengan peluang untuk hidup bebas mengikut fitrah semula jadi mereka apabila keadaan mengizinkan, bukannya dinilai berdasarkan nilai komersial atau hiburan. . Cara kita melayan gajah mencerminkan nilai, integriti dan komitmen Malaysia terhadap pemuliharaan alam semula jadi.
Malaysia telah mengiktiraf gajah Asia sebagai Hidupan Liar Dilindungi Sepenuhnya. Kini tiba masanya dasar, amalan dan tindakan kita benar-benar mencerminkan komitmen tersebut.
Lindungilah Gajah Malaysia. Lindungilah warisan semula jadi kita.
Yang benar,
Rakyat Malaysia yang Prihatin
English Version
To:
YB DATO' SRI ARTHUR JOSEPH KURUP, The Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES)
We, the undersigned citizens and friends of Malaysia, call upon the Federal Government to strengthen the protection, welfare and conservation of Malaysia's Asian elephants through science-based policies, ethical management and the full enforcement of existing laws.
The recent tragic death of an elephant calf in Mersing, Johor (1.7.2026), where its mother refused to leave her baby's side, has once again deeply saddened Malaysians. Reports of delays in emergency response and veterinary care have also raised serious concerns about the nation's preparedness to respond to wildlife emergencies. This tragedy occurred just one year after another baby elephant was killed in a road collision on Mother's Day in 2025. These are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a growing crisis facing Malaysia's elephants, both in the wild and under human care.
Malaysia's Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is recognised as Totally Protected Wildlife under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716). Together with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 (Act 772) and Malaysia's commitments under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), these legal protections require elephants to be managed in ways that safeguard their welfare, dignity and long-term conservation.
Despite these protections, Malaysia's elephants continue to face numerous human-induced threats, including:
- Habitat loss, fragmentation and shrinking wildlife corridors.
2. Increasing human-elephant conflict.
3. Wildlife road collisions and delays in emergency response for injured wildlife.
4. Commercial exploitation through performances, tourism, private functions and other forms of entertainment.
5. Captive breeding that does not demonstrably contribute to conservation.
6. The transfer of elephants to zoos or overseas facilities at the expense of their welfare and natural lives.
Between 2021 and May 2026, PERHILITAN recorded more than 76,000 human-wildlife conflict complaints nationwide, while more than 2,300 wild animals were killed in road collisions between 2020 and 2024. These figures highlight the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy to better protect elephants and their habitats.
Elephants are sentient beings. They are highly intelligent, emotionally complex and deeply social animals that form lifelong family bonds, grieve their dead and play a vital role in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. They are not performers, tourist attractions or commodities. They deserve to live as naturally as possible, with dignity and respect.
Conservation facilities should exist to protect wildlife, rehabilitate injured animals, advance scientific research and educate the public and not to stage performances, entertain visitors, host private functions or commercialise Totally Protected wildlife.
Where necessary, working elephants may continue to play carefully managed roles in legitimate conservation activities such as wildlife rescue, veterinary care, habitat management and human-elephant conflict mitigation. However, they should never be exploited for entertainment or commercial gain.
Malaysia has already recognised the Asian elephant as Totally Protected Wildlife. It is now time for our policies, practices and public institutions to reflect the spirit of that protection.
We therefore call upon the Federal Government to:
1. Strengthen the protection of elephant habitats and reduce wildlife roadkill.
Identify wildlife collision hotspots, construct wildlife crossings and safety fencing, improve road design, enforce lower speed limits in high-risk areas, strengthen emergency response for injured wildlife, and ensure that all future development projects incorporate wildlife-friendly infrastructure and ecological connectivity.
2. End the commercial exploitation of Totally Protected elephants.
Phase out the use of elephants for performances, tricks, rides, private functions and all other forms of commercial entertainment at both government and private facilities. Conservation should prioritise education, welfare and the expression of natural behaviours—not spectacle or commercial attraction.
3. Establish national elephant welfare standards.
Develop and enforce evidence-based welfare standards that prioritise elephants' physical, behavioural and psychological needs while allowing them to express their natural behaviours with minimal human interference.
4. End captive breeding unless scientifically justified for conservation.
Captive breeding should only occur where it demonstrably contributes to recognised conservation programmes and the long-term survival of the species—not to increase captive populations for exhibition, tourism or commercial purposes.
5. Keep elephants in their natural habitats whenever possible.
Wherever circumstances permit, Malaysia's elephants should remain in protected natural landscapes where they can fulfil their ecological role and contribute to healthy wild populations. Translocation to zoos or overseas facilities should occur only under exceptional circumstances that are clearly justified on conservation or welfare grounds.
6. Strengthen transparency, accountability and human-elephant coexistence.
Publish annual reports on elephant mortality, roadkill incidents, translocations, welfare assessments and breeding programmes, while investing in habitat restoration, human-elephant conflict mitigation, public education and early-warning systems that enable people and elephants to coexist more safely.
Malaysia's elephants are more than a protected species. They are architects of our forests, essential seed dispersers, part of our shared natural heritage and a national treasure that must be safeguarded for future generations. How we choose to treat them reflects our values, our integrity and our commitment to conservation.
We call upon our nation's leaders to demonstrate compassion, courage and political will by making ethical elephant protection, welfare and conservation a national priority.
Whether living freely in the wild or under human care, every elephant in Malaysia deserves a life guided by dignity, welfare, compassion, science and best conservation practices, with the opportunity to live naturally whenever possible and not to be valued for commercial or entertainment purposes.
Let these tragedies become the turning point.
Malaysia has already recognised the Asian elephant as Totally Protected Wildlife. It is now time for our policies, practices and actions to honour that commitment.
Protect Malaysia's Elephants. Protect Our Natural Heritage.
Sincerely,
Concerned Rakyat
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 14 May 2025