Indonesia officially bans elephant rides after animal welfare concerns
If you’re headed to Indonesia, keep in mind that elephant riding is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. Many popular destinations have banned the activity to prioritize animal rights, urging travelers to seek out cruelty-free encounters instead.
This came after Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry's Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation issued Circular Letter No. 6 of 2025, officially putting an end to elephant riding activities at all conservation and tourism facilities nationwide, per a South China Morning Post report.
The Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency, which has been overseeing on-site implementation, warned that facilities not adhering to regulations could face the revocation of their operating permits.
“All conservation institutions are required to stop elephant riding and begin transforming towards more educational, innovative, and ethical wildlife tourism,” said Ratna Hendratmoko, head of BKSDA Bali.
Many local zoos have pulled out the activity since the order took effect in December.
“Animal welfare is our main priority. We made this decision to support better elephant management and ensure continuous improvement in animal handling standards,” said the Bali Zoo’s public relations manager.
For many years, elephant riding was part of Indonesia's tourism, with operators saying that the practice was ethical.
“[It] is not cruel; it does not hurt the elephant in any way," Nigel Mason, founder of Mason Elephant Park, said in December, adding that the activity is also a form of exercise for the elephants.
The elephant park, which was previously one of the few places still offering elephant rides, has officially stopped elephant rides on Jan. 25 following official warnings and is now shifting its focus to more ethical tourism experiences.
"Guided by elephant health and welfare above all else, we are evolving towards a more natural experience without elephant rides," it wrote on its Instagram post.
Cambodia banned the elephant riding activity in early 2020, though it's still offered in other Asian countries like Thailand, India, and in some spots in Vietnam.
