Perhilitan denies selling 19 elephants, says they were transferred on loan

2026-03-27 - 11:51

A user of the Threads app alleged that 19 elephants, some as young as five years old, had been sold to a circus. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: The wildlife and national parks department (Perhilitan) has denied a claim on social media that it sold 19 elephants to certain parties, calling the allegation false and misleading. Perhilitan director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the elephants were not sold, but were being transferred on loan for wildlife conservation and management. “Relocation is part of the department’s strategy to ensure the survival of the species in the event of disease outbreaks or disasters in their original habitat, while also reducing human-wildlife conflict and strengthening conservation programmes,” he said. “This is also important as a ‘population insurance’ strategy, as placing some animals in different locations can reduce the risk of large-scale losses due to unforeseen factors.” Abdul Kadir said such collaborations also open up opportunities for technology and expertise transfer, particularly in the fields of controlled breeding, health monitoring, nutrition and modern habitat management. “All relocated elephants will continue to be monitored and regulated by the natural resources and environment ministry and Perhilitan, with periodic reports from the receiving parties,” he said. Abdul Kadir also said Perhilitan will act against false information, as it can create confusion and negative perceptions of the country’s conservation efforts. The offending post appeared on the Threads social media platform, where a user alleged that 19 elephants, some as young as five years old, had been sold to a circus.