Elephant riding, once a popular attraction at wildlife parks in Bali, has been ordered to end at conservation institutions across Indonesia, with authorities warning operators that continued violations could cost them their permits.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry issued Circular Letter No. 6 of 2025 on Dec. 18, directing conservation facilities managing elephants nationwide to discontinue riding attractions and shift toward tourism activities that prioritize animal welfare.
The directive affects facilities caring for protected Sumatran elephants, a critically endangered subspecies threatened by habitat loss and other pressures. Government data showed that Bali had 83 Sumatran elephants housed across five conservation institutions as of the end of 2025.
The directive brought changes to some of Bali’s established wildlife attractions, including Mason Elephant Park in Gianyar, which had not fully stopped offering elephant rides after receiving its first government warning on Jan. 13, 2026.
Conservation authorities issued a second warning on Jan. 21 after finding that the park had not fully discontinued the activity. Officials warned that further noncompliance could result in a third written warning, providing grounds for proceedings to revoke its conservation permit.
Four days later, Mason Elephant Park formally ended all elephant-riding activities for tourists and other commercial purposes. Government inspectors visited the facility on Jan. 25 and confirmed that no elephant rides were taking place during their inspection.
Bali Zoo had already ended its elephant-riding program on Jan. 1, shifting its focus toward animal care, conservation education and alternative visitor experiences.
Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency head Ratna Hendratmoko said all conservation institutions managing elephants were required to stop riding attractions and move toward more educational and ethical wildlife tourism.
The government directive reflects Indonesia’s effort to strengthen animal welfare standards while changing how captive elephants are used in tourism.
