Indonesia has taken a step towards promoting animal welfare and moving a step away from animal cruelty. The country, once known for its elephant rides and other animal-related attractions, has become the first Asian country to ban elephant rides completely. The call follows a government directive that requires all conservation and tourist facilities to cease elephant riding activities and shift towards more ethical, observation-based experiences.
Elephant Rides Banned In Indonesia: Here’s What Tourists Must Know
Official Directive Rolled Out In December 2025
Towards the end of 2025, the Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of Indonesia issued a circular. The circular stated a formal ban on elephant riding activities at all conservation and tourism facilities across Indonesia, to be in effect by the end of January 2026.
The Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency has stated that the facilities that fail to comply with the directive may get their operating permits revoked. This agency will be monitoring the on-ground implementation of the new directive.
The directive has urged conservation sites to prioritize animal welfare, offer educational activities to visitors and shift to attractions that are “innovative and non-exploitative” and do not involve physical contact with animals.
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Why Elephant Riding Got Banned
Elephant riding is widely recognized by animal welfare organizations and wildlife experts as harmful. It causes both physical and psychological stress to the animal and restricts its natural behavior. When animals like elephants are held in captivity and used for activities like rides and entertainment, it can leave serious, long-lasting physical and psychological damage on them.
To end animal abuse, it is important to restrict or end harmful practices on animals and instead let them live in their natural habitat.
A Shift Towards Ethical Wildlife Tourism
The directive is pushing for a kind of tourism that is responsible and humane. By advocating for the end of exploitative practices against animals, it is encouraging ethical tourism and conservation.
For travelers, the ban on elephant rides in Indonesia is a move towards ethical tourism that earlier relied at the expense of the animal. When a government implements directives like these, it encourages tourists to shift their focus on the exploitation animals face and choose a more sustainable, ethical form of tourism.
Indonesia is home to the critically endangered Sumatran elephant and endangered Bornean elephant. With a nationwide ban on the exploitation of animals, conservation efforts towards these animals are expected to accelerate.
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Summing Up
Indonesia has created history by becoming the first Asian country to ban elephant rides. Through a directive released in December 2025, the Indonesian government has instructed conservation sites and zoos to discontinue elephant rides in a step towards animal welfare. What do you think of this move?
