Kelat remains in stable condition despite 100kg weight loss, says MPT

IPOH: A viral photograph showing Kelat appearing unusually thin does not reflect the elephant's current condition, said the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT).

MPT, in a statement posted on its Facebook page, said Kelat had lost about 100kg, but the weight loss occurred while the male elephant was undergoing the musth phase, which has continued since Aug 18.

It said Kelat remained in good and stable condition, was active and continued to cooperate during training sessions at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, Japan.

"Based on the latest information from Tennoji Zoo, Kelat continues to cooperate well during training sessions.

"During the keepers' morning and evening rounds, Kelat has also been observed several times following his keepers along the route," it said.

MPT said Tennoji Zoo was closely monitoring signs of Kelat's musth, including increasing secretions from his temporal glands.

It said Kelat's inner thighs were also constantly wet due to urine, while string-like bodily fluids had been observed.

"To monitor the progression of the musth phase more accurately, Tennoji Zoo will continue to record and measure the amount of temporal gland secretions, urine and other related signs," it said.

MPT said Kelat's condition should not be assessed based solely on a single photograph circulating on social media.

It said an elephant's health and welfare should be assessed through continuous observation of its behaviour, food intake and weight, alongside monitoring by keepers and veterinary personnel.

"Kelat is currently going through the musth phase and remains under close monitoring."

MPT added that it continued to obtain updates on Kelat from Tennoji Zoo and remained concerned about his welfare.

The council also urged social media users to verify information before sharing it, saying assumptions should not be presented as facts.

"Do not turn assumptions into facts and then allow the public to believe them," it said.

On May 14, MPT dismissed claims that Kelat was suffering from eye problems, saying the visible changes around its eyes were due to swelling of the temporal gland during musth.

On June 15, MPT said Kelat was temporarily separated from the other elephants after entering musth.

Musth is a natural physiological phase in adult male elephants marked by a sharp rise in testosterone levels, often leading to behavioural changes, including increased aggression.

The three elephants, Dara, Amoi and Kelat, were reportedly transferred to Tennoji Zoo in March as part of an official collaboration between Zoo Taiping and Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo under a sister-zoo concept focused on conservation, knowledge sharing and improved animal care standards.