Elephant Transfer Probe
MACC Investigates RM53 Million Corruption Claims in Elephant Transfer to Japan
Key Points
MACC said it has begun collecting statements not just from national bodies but also from specific local/procedural stakeholders, including the Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), the Taiping Municipal Council, and Zoo Taiping and Night Safari, to examine the procedures and approvals tied to the relocation.
Hidup president Rajesh Nagarajan said the group was “tipped off by a purported whistleblower” and that it provided MACC with a list of eight people for investigation.
In defending the move, Zoo Taiping said the relocation of Dara, Amoi and Kelat to Tennoji Zoo was part of a “conservation and research programme.”
The Star reported MACC is reviewing the procedures and approval process as well as the “related memorandum of understanding,” based on the statements it has recorded so far.
Malaysia's anti-corruption agency has opened a formal probe into the transfer of three Asian elephants from Zoo Taiping to a zoo in Osaka, Japan, amid claims that RM53 million in payments never reached the government. Scoop.my reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed it is investigating alleged leakages, bribery, and abuse of power linked to the deal involving elephants Dara, Amoi, and Kelat.
The MACC said it has begun recording statements from four agencies, including Perhilitan (the wildlife and national parks department), the Taiping Municipal Council, and Zoo Taiping. The commission urged the public not to speculate, noting the case is at an early stage, according to The Sun.
RM53 Million Allegedly Paid to Private Individuals, Not Government
Wildlife group Hidup alleged that around RM50 million was paid to private individuals rather than the Malaysian treasury. Hidup president Rajesh Nagarajan said the group was "tipped off by a purported whistleblower" and gave MACC a list of eight people to investigate, Free Malaysia Today reported. Nagarajan stated: "We believe that the payment has not gone into the coffers of the Malaysian government, but rather into the pockets of these individuals."
A second NGO, PEKA, also lodged a complaint. It raised questions about whether the elephants were taken from the wild and how the transfer was approved. The Edge Malaysia reported that MACC is also reviewing the related memorandum of understanding (MoU) — the official agreement — signed between the two zoos.
Elephants Left Malaysia in March Under a 25-Year Loan Deal
Dara, Amoi, and Kelat flew to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka on March 10, 2026, on a six-hour flight. The freight cost alone was listed at RM368,250 on the airway bill. Zoo Taiping called the move a "conservation and research programme" and stressed the elephants remain under Zoo Taiping's ownership, not sold to Japan.
Asian elephants are listed under CITES Appendix I — the highest international protection level — which bans commercial trade. Officials framed the deal as a 25-year zoo-to-zoo loan to sidestep those restrictions. But activists claim two of the three elephants came from a federal rescue centre in Kuala Gandah, not from Zoo Taiping's captive population, according to Yahoo News Malaysia.
Viral Videos and a Shrinking Elephant Spark Public Outrage
Videos of the elephants responding to their Malay names and appearing distressed went viral after their arrival. The "Kembalikan DAK" (Return Dara, Amoi, Kelat) campaign gathered over 87,500 petition signatures. Elephant specialist Keith Lindsay reported signs of "stereotypic behavior" — repetitive stress movements — at Tennoji Zoo, Headtopics noted.
Male elephant Kelat lost 220kg shortly after arrival. The zoo blamed "musth" — a natural hormonal condition in male elephants. Activists pointed to it as a sign of serious stress. Tennoji Zoo's enclosure measures just 1,612 square metres, which animal welfare groups say is far too small for three elephants.
MACC Probe Puts Ministry and Former Minister Under Scrutiny
The investigation targets the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) and Perhilitan, the agency that approved the export. Activists named former NRES Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as someone who should be questioned about the approval process, The Star reported. Activists also flagged that documents were endorsed by a Pahang state veterinary officer for animals supposedly from Perak — a procedural anomaly they say points to deliberate misclassification.
If MACC finds evidence of the RM53 million leakage, charges could follow under the MACC Act 2009 for abuse of power. A finding of graft could also bolster demands to bring the elephants home, as their export permits would be considered void due to fraud. Malaysia-Japan diplomatic ties at the municipal level could also face strain, since Osaka City is a direct party to the deal.
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