Kelat didakwa makin kurus, NRES digesa hantar veterinar ke Jepun

Three Malaysian elephants, Dara, Amoi, and Kelat, are now residing at Zoo Tennoji in Japan. The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) and the Ministry of Rural and Environmental Conservation (NRES) have agreed to send a team of Malaysian veterinarians to the zoo for a 14-day examination of the elephants' health. Neow Choo Seong, a spokesperson for the Youth Division of the MCA, stated that the examination is necessary due to Kelat's declining physical condition since being transferred to the zoo.

The examination should be continuous and thorough to assess Kelat's weight, body condition, skin, eyes, feet, and claws. Additional tests, including a full blood count, cortisol hormone levels for stress and pressure, and parasite count, should also be conducted. These tests will help determine if Kelat's condition is genuine musth or symptoms of disease and chronic stress.

Neow emphasized the need to evaluate the welfare of DAK, including enclosure size, flooring, daily diet, and isolation period. The outcome of the examination should be made public, including a report, video, and laboratory results, in addition to being assessed by an independent international elephant expert. If the examination reveals a decline in Kelat's health or neglect of welfare, Neow stated that NRES must activate the process of returning DAK to its original habitat as previously announced.

He reiterated that NRES must fulfill its promise made on April 29, which was to promptly activate the process of returning DAK to its original habitat.