Gianyar, Bali (ANTARA) - Bali Zoo has ended its elephant ride attraction for tourists, saying the move prioritizes animal welfare and complies with a Forestry Ministry regulation banning the practice at conservation facilities, the zoo said on Thursday.
“Animal welfare is our main priority,” Bali Zoo public relations manager Emma Kristiana Chandra said, confirming the zoo’s decision to permanently halt elephant rides.
She said the zoo was complying with Circular No. 6 of 2025 issued by the Forestry Ministry’s Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, which orders conservation bodies to end elephant riding programs.
Bali Zoo stopped offering elephant rides on Jan. 1, 2026, Chandra said, adding the zoo coordinated closely with the Bali Provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency, known as BKSDA, to implement the policy.
“We made this decision to support better elephant management and ensure continuous improvement in animal handling standards,” she said, stressing the zoo’s commitment to ethical conservation practices.
The zoo said ending the rides allows elephants more time and space to maintain natural behaviors, interact socially, and improve overall physical and psychological well-being.
Following the change, Bali Zoo will focus on enhanced animal care, visitor education, and developing experiences centered on conservation rather than physical interaction with wildlife, Chandra said.
Bali BKSDA head Ratna Hendratmoko welcomed the decision and expressed hope that other conservation facilities across the island would follow Bali Zoo’s example.
According to Bali BKSDA data, the province has 13 conservation facilities, five of which manage Sumatran elephants, with a combined total of 83 animals.
Bali Zoo, classified as a conservation institution, currently houses 14 Sumatran elephants, consisting of 10 females and four males, authorities said, noting the species is protected and critically endangered.
