“All conservation institutions are required to stop elephant riding and begin transforming toward more educational, innovative and ethical wildlife tourism,” Ratna Hendratmoko, head of the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), said in Denpasar on Sunday.
The Forestry Ministry, through its Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), earlier issued Circular Letter No. 6 of 2025 ordering the termination of elephant riding performances at conservation institutions.
Hendratmoko said Mason Elephant Park, in Gianyar regency, failed to fully halt its riding activities by a Jan. 21, 2026 deadline, despite receiving a first warning letter on Jan. 13.
On Jan. 21, the KSDAE director general issued a second warning letter, or SP-II, to the park, he said.
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The SP-II reiterated the obligation to stop all forms of elephant riding without exception, implement animal welfare management standards and submit a tourism transformation plan to the Bali BKSDA, Hendratmoko added.
He said failure to comply with the second warning would trigger a third notice, SP-III, which could be used as grounds to revoke the park’s operating permit.
Following the two written warnings, Made Yanie Mason, president director of PT Wisatareksa Gajah Perdana, which manages the park, announced the cessation of elephant riding on Jan. 25, 2026, in a signed statement.
Made Yanie Mason said the company had officially ended all elephant riding activities as of that date, both for tourists and for any other commercial purposes.
The Bali BKSDA welcomed the decision and thanked conservationists, animal welfare observers, academics and social media activists who had backed the enforcement of the policy.
“We invite all conservation institution managers in Bali to use this momentum as a shared commitment to safeguarding the dignity of animals, especially Sumatran elephants, which are protected species,” Hendratmoko said.
The agency said it would continue monitoring the park to ensure full compliance with animal welfare standards and the planned transition to non-exploitative tourism activities.
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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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