Perak: The three elephants Dara, Amoi, and Kelat that were transferred to Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan, remain the property of the Taiping Zoo and Night Safari (TZNS) and do not involve any transfer of ownership or sale transactions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching clarified that the relocation of the elephants was not a commercial transaction but part of an official collaboration between TZNS and Tennoji Zoo under the sister zoo concept. This collaboration focuses on conservation, expertise sharing, and raising the standards of animal care.

Ng emphasized that the agreement ensures the welfare of the elephants by mandating suitable habitats, regular feeding, veterinary health care, and the implementation of safety and emergency plans. The Osaka zoo authorities are required to provide periodic reports, with the implementation monitored via a joint mechanism.

In terms of conservation efforts, Ng explained that the placement and exchange of animals are determined based on facility suitability, expertise, and the species' long-term needs. She assured that the welfare of the animals is maintained through a systematic process, which has been in place since 2021 and involved various stages of approval, including from Perhilitan and compliance with CITES by both Malaysia and Japan. This cooperation aligns with the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP) and the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716).

In a separate development, Ng announced the progress of the D'aman Residensi housing project in Meru Raya, which received the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) on April 16 after an eight-year delay. With the CCC, the project has entered the final phase before buyers can collect their keys and occupy their residences, with vacant possession expected around May. The housing project, previously stalled for three years, resumed in 2024 and involves approximately 60 owners.