Indonesia Bans Elephant Rides at Bali Attractions Over Animal Welfare Concerns
Bali, Indonesia – Elephant rides at tourist attractions across Bali have been banned following a directive from Indonesia’s forestry authorities aimed at promoting animal welfare. Conservation centres that previously offered elephant-riding experiences are now required to cease these activities and transition towards more ethical and educational wildlife tourism.
The Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation issued a circular last month mandating the end of elephant-riding "performances." While this circular is not a formal law passed by parliament, it holds significant authority because compliance is enforced through conservation licensing. Provincial agencies have the power to monitor centres and can issue warnings or revoke permits if facilities fail to comply.
In Bali, the provincial conservation agency BKSDA Bali has taken the lead in implementing the directive. The agency has issued warning letters to operators and increased monitoring of facilities housing elephants. During a supervision visit in Denpasar, Ratna Hendratmoko, head of BKSDA Bali, emphasized the need for all conservation institutions to stop elephant rides and instead develop innovative and educational wildlife tourism options that prioritize animal welfare.
Elephant rides have been allowed under conservation permits in Indonesia, especially in Bali, where operators had defended the practice as ethical for many years. However, growing concerns around animal welfare, reflected in similar bans in countries such as Cambodia and India, have prompted Indonesia to take decisive steps to end the practice and align with more humane tourism approaches.
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