Bali Zoo Stops Elephant Riding For Tourists 

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Jumbo news is coming out of the Island of the Gods: Bali Zoo has confirmed it is stopping elephant rides for tourists with immediate effect.

The practice of riding elephants has received increasing amounts of criticism from animal welfare specialists and ethical tourism leaders worldwide over the last decade. 

Bali Zoo has confirmed it has stopped its elephant-riding program on animal-welfare grounds. Speaking to reporters, Bali Zoo’s Head of Public Relations, Emma Kristiana Chandra, said, “Animal welfare is our top priority.”

The move comes within days of the issuance of a Circular Letter by the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation for the Ministry of Forestry, which outlines the termination of elephant-riding demonstrations at conservation institutions.

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The captive elephant situation in Indonesia is unique. Almost all of the captive elephants in Indonesia belong to the government. This is unique to Indonesia; in other countries where elephants are commonly kept in captivity, the population is owned by private individuals, with a majority, while some are owned by the government. 

Chandra confirmed that Bali Zoo’s decision to stop elephant riding has been coordinated with the Bali Province Natural Resource Conservation Agency, which oversees the zoo’s care of the animals.

Chandra explained, “We made this decision to support better elephant management and ensure continuous improvement in animal handling standards.” Bali Zoo is home to fourteen critically endangered Sumatran elephants, ten females and four males, including star personality baby Kama.

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The BKSDA has also shared hopes that stopping the program will provide more time and space for the elephants to engage in natural behaviour, social interactions, care, and enrichment activities. Bali Zoo is not looking to immediately replace the program with other activities, but will continue to focus on daily elephant care, conservation education for visitors, and improving visitor experiences across the board.

The move to stop elephant rides in Bali is one that the BKSDA is taking seriously. The Head of the BKSDA Bali, Ratna Hendratmoko, told reporters that all five of the conservation centres in Bali that are home to Sumatran elephants must comply with the new regulations stipulated in the Circular Letter. 

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Hendratmoko explained, “We are committed to continuously supervising implementation of the directive and reminding conservation centres to fully comply.” He added, “In managing elephants, conservation centres must prioritize animal welfare at all times.”

For those in the animal welfare space, there is hope that the move to stop elephant riding at Bali Zoo and other facilities will prompt a shift away from other animal tourism activities that promote direct interaction with wildlife, including Bali Zoo’s Breakfast with Orangutans.

The announcement from Bali Zoo prompted significant feedback from followers. One wrote, “About time, however, you need to discontinue all interaction with people (with the exception of the keepers) and allow the elephants to engage in their own social and natural interactions and behaviours.”

Another shared “Fantastic news! I hope the sessions with the bathing stops also! I must say I attended one in Oct to be up close to an elephant; however, looking back, I wouldn’t do it again. The number of bathing groups daily is just cruel. They should be left alone.”

Hendratmoko told reporters at the end of 2025 that welfare must be a top priority and that all facilities must comply with the new policies that will continue to be implemented.

He explained, “Elephant management must be civilized, respectful because they are animals, equally created by God.”

He concluded, “We hope they will gradually reduce and eliminate the use of riding elephants periodically. Hopefully, this situation will serve as a lesson, especially for riding elephants.”