Overview
- Tennoji Zoo in Osaka opened its new Asian elephant exhibit Tuesday, marking its first public showing in eight years after the 2018 death of Rani.
- Three elephants—Kurak (male, about 20), Dara (female, about 14) and Amoi (female, about 9)—went on view for visitors.
- The animals were transferred from Malaysia under a conservation program with Taiping Zoo & Night Safari to care for rescued elephants and support research.
- The zoo expanded and renovated its elephant area to about 4,740 square meters, which it describes as one of the largest such habitats in Japan.
- Crowds watched the trio eat hay and bamboo and play in a pool, as director Takeru Mukai urged visitors to learn about habitat loss and poaching that endanger the species.