As reported by Balidiscovery, various Indonesian authorities, including the Indonesian Nature Conservation Agency (KSDA), issued a Circular Memorandum on 18 December 2026 outlawing animal parks and conservation agencies from offering elephant rides to the public. In the memorandum, The Nature Conservation Agency (KSDA) outlawed elephant rides in Indonesia. The agency detailed new rules that now make it illegal for five elephant parks in Bali, home to 83 Sumatran elephants, to offer public elephant rides.
The new rule will almost certainly impact the financial viability of Taman Safari Bali. Mason Elephant Park, Bakas Adventure Elephant Park, Bali Zoo, and Tasta Zoo in Tabanan, West Bali – all of which have offered elephant rides and encounters in the past. The sudden end of elephant rides in Bali also threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and the 5 parks’ ability to provide for the safe care and feeding of the elephants entrusted to their care.
Bali Discovery reached out to Nigel Mason, the owner of Mason Adventures and founder of the award-winning elephant park in Taro, Bali, who is a well-known outspoken defender of “best practice” in the care of captive Sumatran elephants, for his comments, which we publish in full below;
Statement from Nigel Mason from the Mason Elephant Park
“We believe this government ruling is a knee-jerk reaction to a complicated and important matter that goes far beyond a subject just to be discussed on the internet. Mason Elephant Park has been caring for its herd of elephants since they were rescued in 1997, after the animals had been neglected and no one was prepared to care for them. Since that time, the herd has thrived and even produced 6 healthy babies. It is very costly to look after a large herd of elephants.”
“Throughout COVID, our park had to close its doors for more than two and a half years, like many other places. Closing an elephant park was literally impossible due to the responsibility of keeping these precious creatures alive throughout this period, with no funding from daily visitors, outside businesses, or donations. Consequently, the Mason Elephant Park came very close to bankruptcy as we ran up an enormous amount of debt to the banks.”
“The real culprit of this problem, in my opinion, is the mass scale of deforestation in Sumatra, depriving the Sumatran elephant of their natural habitat.”
“We have spent 30 years caring for these elephants, which has meant we have had to raise funds constantly to keep this herd alive. It is scientifically proven that properly conducted elephant rides and other activities actually do more good than harm, if they are carried out responsibly, as it keeps the elephants healthy and stimulated.”
“The Mason Elephant Park works under the direction of Asian Captive Elephant Standards (ACES), which has more than 200 separate criteria that must be followed to gain certification, with audits conducted annually at the park. We take this very seriously and diligently follow these international elephant welfare standards. Elephant training is done most gently, and our elephants live in peace and harmony with their mahouts and staff at the park. Because of this, the park has become renowned throughout the world with numerous high-profile guests and visitors over many years.”
“Many of the claims being circulated are from uninformed people who have never visited the park and have little or no knowledge of how to ethically and responsibly run an elephant park. For instance, claims that elephants have three adult riders in one seat are fantasy, and scars around the ankles of rescued elephants were made in Sumatra, dating from before they even came to Bali. You would only have to look at the ankles of any of the younger elephants and babies born in our Park to see this. Also, dismissal is mandatory if any mahout strikes or abuses any elephant at the park. This policy has been in effect from the very first day of the park’s founding in 1997.”
“The park employs many hundreds of local villagers, which has lifted the standards of employment opportunity in the village of Taro well beyond what it was before the park was founded.”
“You only have to read the comments on the park’s websites from thousands of guests to see that the park is world-class, well-run, and why it is classed as the best of its type in the world. It is an asset to Bali, as it sets the highest possible standard in elephant care.”
“The real solution is to bring together all the elephant businesses with the government to discuss this matter rationally, scientifically, with facts being more important than pure emotion. We have repeatedly offered to come together with the government and the other elephant locations in Bali to discuss this matter and find a solution that does not jeopardize the future of the elephants in Bali.”
Related Links
Nature Conservation Agency (KSDA) Outlaws Elephant Rides In Indonesia
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