{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1676645,
        "msgid": "indonesia-bans-elephant-riding-practices-in-conservation-areas-1776156682",
        "date": "2026-04-14 14:45:22",
        "title": "Indonesia Bans Elephant Riding Practices in Conservation Areas",
        "author": "Jessi Carina",
        "source": "KOMPAS",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Indonesian government has issued a ban on elephant riding displays in conservation areas to protect animal welfare, as announced by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni through a circular dated 18 December 2025. This policy, which positions Indonesia as the first country to implement a total ban, addresses the physical and psychological stress on elephants and is supported by an upcoming presidential instruction for the conservation of Sumatran and Bornean elephant populations. The move emphasises a shift towards ethical ecotourism that respects natural animal behaviours while facilitating economic transitions for affected businesses.",
        "content": "<p>The government has begun prohibiting the practice of elephant riding\ndisplays to protect wildlife in conservation areas. This regulation was\nissued by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni through Circular Number 6\nof 2025 on 18 December 2025. \u201cThe practice of elephant riding displays\nis no longer in line with modern conservation principles and animal\nwelfare,\u201d said Raja Juli during a Commission IV DPR meeting in Jakarta\non Tuesday (14\/4\/2026). According to him, attention to elephant\nprotection at both national and international levels is very high.\nFurthermore, Raja Juli mentioned that Indonesian President Prabowo\nSubianto will soon issue a presidential instruction regarding the\nsalvation of the population and habitat of Sumatran and Kalimantan\nelephants. \u201cIt has been initialled by several ministers; insya Allah,\nthis instruction will be issued soon,\u201d he continued. In front of\nCommission IV DPR members, he acknowledged that this policy initially\nfaced rejection from some business actors and managers of public\nconservation institutions. However, the government conducted dialogues,\nsocialisation, and persuasive approaches regarding this policy to ensure\nacceptance by all parties. According to the Forestry Minister, Indonesia\nis the first country to ban elephant riding completely. This PSI\npolitician also revealed that the main reason for this policy is\nconsideration of animal welfare. This is because the practice of\nelephant riding has the potential to cause physical and psychological\npressure on elephants, which are intelligent animals with high\nsensitivity. On that basis, the government ensures that wildlife\nmanagement, especially in conservation institutions, is not only\noriented towards economics or tourism but also principles of welfare and\nethics. He assured that he will continue to encourage all conservation\ninstitutions, both in Bali and other regions, to transform towards a\nmore educational and interactive ecotourism model. Raja Juli also wants\nevery conservation institution to respect the natural behaviour of\nanimals. \u201cThe government is also open to facilitating this transition\nprocess to still provide economic benefits for the community without\nsacrificing animal welfare,\u201d he added.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-bans-elephant-riding-practices-in-conservation-areas-1776156682",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}