Four Bali Parks Hope To Draw Tourists With Imported Elephants

Made Arya Kencana, Jakarta Globe 9 Feb 10;

Denpasar. After last year’s failed attempt to ship in Komodo dragons, Bali now is looking at getting elephants from Sumatra to attract more tourists.

Four conservation institutions in Bali on Tuesday requested 59 elephants from Way Kambas National Park in Lampung: 10 for the Elephant Safari Park in Taro, Gianyar district; 14 for Bali Zoo Park, also in Gianyar; 15 for Kasian in Badung; and 20 for Bakas Zoo in Klungkung district.

The request was made at a meeting in Sanur, Bali, on elephants and other wild animals in conservation institutions.

“We hope that this could be a new breakthrough for Bali tourism,” said Anak Agung Gede Putra, an official with Bali Zoo Park, explaining that the elephants would be used as ride attractions.

Nyoman Suweta, a representative from Bakas Zoo, said the elephants would not disrupt the environment as the province had about 402,000 hectares of idle land, some of which could be used to boost tourism.

“We don’t think that there is going to be a conflict between elephants and humans, because the elephants have been domesticated,” Nyoman said.

Hari Santosa, the director of forest protection and nature conservation at the Ministry of Forestry, said they would not disturb the balance of nature and would prove beneficial. “Thailand and India, which are considered to be elephant countries, don’t have this kind of idea,” Hari said.

Not everyone supports the proposal. Made Gunaja, deputy chief of the Bali Forestry Office, said the governor had recommended that no more elephants be brought to Bali as it could increase conflict between animals and humans.

Bali’s regional secretary, Nyoman Yasa, agreed, saying: “I think that the governor has made his decision very clear.”

Conservation institutions in Bali already have 93 elephants, including 33 at Taman Safari Indonesia, while the Elephant Safari Park in Taro has 32, Kasiana has 18 and Bakas Zoo has 10.

There are about 200 wild elephants in Way Kambas National Park, and 61 more in the park’s elephant training center.

The Sumatran elephant is an endangered species. A 2000 survey estimated at most 2,700 living in the wild. The biggest threat to the elephant is habitat loss due to forest conversion.