Indonesia Monitors Bali Elephant Park Following Government Directive to End Elephant Riding

Denpasar, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s conservation agency is monitoring Mason Elephant Park in Bali after the attraction halted elephant riding following two government warnings and a national directive to end such practices at conservation institutions.

“All conservation institutions are required to stop elephant riding and begin transforming toward more educational, innovative, and ethical wildlife tourism,” said Ratna Hendratmoko, Head of the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), 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 mandating the termination of elephant riding performances at conservation institutions nationwide.

Hendratmoko stated that Mason Elephant Park, located in Gianyar Regency, failed to fully halt its riding activities by the January 21, 2026, deadline, despite receiving a first warning letter on January 13. On January 21, the KSDAE Director General issued a second warning, or SP-II, reiterating the obligation to stop all forms of elephant riding, implement animal welfare management standards, and submit a tourism transformation plan to the Bali BKSDA.

He added that failure to comply with the second warning could result in a third notice, SP-III, which may serve as grounds for revoking 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 in a signed statement that all elephant riding activities had officially ceased as of January 25, 2026, both for tourists and for any other commercial purposes.

The Bali BKSDA welcomed the decision and expressed appreciation to conservationists, animal welfare advocates, academics, and social media activists who supported 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 confirmed it would continue monitoring Mason Elephant Park to ensure full compliance with animal welfare standards and the planned transition toward non-exploitative and educational tourism activities.