GIANYAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Mason Elephant Park in Gianyar, Bali, continues to offer elephant riding activities to visitors despite receiving a formal warning letter from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry through the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Bali).
The issue drew public attention after musician and animal welfare activist Melanie Subono questioned the availability of the elephant riding attraction via social media. She shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation asking whether elephant riding was still available for Saturday, January 24, and claimed her social media account was blocked by the park’s management after raising the question. Melanie also tagged the Minister of Forestry in her post.
Mason Elephant Park management has confirmed that the elephant riding attraction remains operational. Park manager Ketut Sari said the activity is still open to visitors, even though the management received a first warning letter approximately one week earlier.
“Yes, the elephant riding is still open,” Sari said when met on Wednesday (January 21, 2026).
According to Sari, the warning letter instructs the park to stop the elephant riding activity within one month. However, the management has not yet suspended the attraction and plans to seek clarification directly from Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni regarding the condition and management of the 24 elephants at the facility.
“We are in ongoing communication with BKSDA, and our owner is preparing to meet the minister,” she said.
Sari explained that the elephant riding attraction contributes significantly to the park’s operational income. She said around 50 percent of Mason Elephant Park’s operating costs depend on revenue generated from the activity, including expenses related to elephant care and staff salaries.
“Honestly, our revenue would automatically drop by more than 50 percent. Operational costs for elephant welfare and our staff would not be sufficient if the activity is immediately closed,” she said.
The management also stated that the elephants are treated properly and that strict limits are applied during riding activities. Each elephant is accompanied by one handler and carries a maximum of two visitors with an appropriate combined weight. Specially designed saddles and layered padding are used, which the management claims do not cause harm to the animals.
“If a guest is heavier, only one person rides one elephant. An elephant weighing around four tons can carry up to 500 kilograms, which is only about seven percent of its body weight,” Sari said.
She added that the elephants, which include males, females, and calves, are regularly monitored by veterinarians from Indonesia and Thailand, as well as animal welfare specialists who visit periodically. The park also claims to be certified under the Asian Captive Elephant Standards (ACES), an international welfare certification covering health, nutrition, and living conditions.
“We are audited annually under ACES, with around 200 criteria that we meet,” she said.
The elephants housed at Mason Elephant Park were brought from Lampung and Riau starting in 1997, many of them reportedly suffering health issues due to human-related activities in their original habitats. The park said all elephants received professional medical care upon arrival, and the site in Taro Village was selected for its cooler climate, similar to the elephants’ natural environment.
Meanwhile, BKSDA Bali has stated it will escalate the matter to the Ministry of Forestry if the elephant riding attraction is not halted. Head of BKSDA Bali Ratna Hendratmoko said the warning letter was issued directly by the ministry and that repeated reminders have already been given.
“The first warning letter was issued by the ministry for this attraction. BKSDA Bali has reminded the management, and we will report this to our superiors if it continues,” Ratna said.
She added that BKSDA Bali has encouraged Mason Elephant Park to develop alternative attractions that are more educational and aligned with animal conservation ethics.
“We are urging the management to provide alternatives that are more educational and help the public understand how to care for and respect wildlife,” she said.