11/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 11, 2026

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UPM introduces advanced fish surgery technique KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has introduced a fish surgery procedure based on a recirculating anaesthesia system, marking a new advancement in the treatment of aquatic life. The innovation, known as the Fish Anaesthetic Delivery System, was developed to enable surgical procedures on fish to be carried out more safely and systematically, while maintaining a continuous supply of oxygen throughout treatment. UPM Veterinary Clinical Studies Department Faculty of Veterinary Medicine veterinary officer Dr Mohd Fuad Matori said the technology is the result of more than 15 years of research. “The system delivers oxygenated water combined with anaesthetic agents directly to the fish’s gills, allowing surgical procedures to be performed outside of water while maintaining respiratory support,” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that a laparotomy demonstration procedure, involving surgical opening of the abdominal cavity, was performed on tilapia as a model species, comprising several key stages, including anaesthesia induction, surgical incision, suturing and post-operative care. “The entire procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes before the fish is transferred to a specialised recovery tank. Following surgery, the fish are monitored in a dedicated tank for 10 to 14 days before sutures are removed, while complete wound healing may take up to 30 days,”he said. Mohd Fuad said throughout the procedure, antiseptics and antibiotics are used to minimise the risk of infection, while biopsy samples are also collected for microscopic examination and further research purposes. He said the method is being applied in research and in the treatment of high-value ornamental fish such as koi, goldfish and arowana, including for tumour removal and correction of physical abnormalities. “It is expected to add value to the country’s growing aquaculture industry, particularly in fish health management, breeding and treatment,” he said. He added that the development of expertise in fish health is important as the aquaculture sector is closely linked to national food security and the fisheries industry, while also reflecting UPM’s commitment to high-impact research that benefits both industry and society. – Bernama

Dara, Amoi and Kelat were sent from Taiping Zoo to Japan about two months ago under a 25-year agreement. – PIC COURTESY OF MY COMMUNITY NEWS PERAK FACEBOOK PAGE

Calls to bring back relocated jumbos amid welfare concern

temperatures similar to our own climate. “Given their size, they should not be standing or walking on hard cement ground. They need natural soil. “Imagine three-tonne elephants living daily on concrete surfaces. How would that affect their feet over time?” Neow said Malaysia should send an independent team of credible experts to Tennoji Zoo to carry out a full welfare audit, including both physical and psychological assessments. He stressed that the evaluation should not rely solely on updates from the zoo or parties involved in the relocation agreement. On May 9, Neow submitted a memorandum to a representative of the council at Dataran Zoo Taiping on behalf of the DAK Solidarity Secretariat Committee, calling for a national special task force, an independent assessment mission to Japan, full disclosure of the 25-year agreement, a review of wildlife transfer policies and a contingency plan to repatriate the elephants should welfare standards be found lacking. He said the agreement between Taiping Zoo and Tennoji Zoo must be made public, adding that it involves national wildlife heritage and matters of public interest. “We are not talking about any secret between two countries. This is an animal exchange agreement. Anything involving public entities or public interest should be transparent.” Neow added that the issue should not be politicised, but treated strictly as a matter of animal welfare and accountability. “Our voice is their hope. I hope the government will listen to our voice on behalf of the three elephants,” he said.

transportation arrangements and significant adjustments to introduce them to a new environment. The 25-year international cooperation agreement between the two zoos was finalised with the Taiping Municipal Council acting as representative for Taiping Zoo. The arrangement, intended as a long-term transfer, has now come under increasing scrutiny amid concerns over animal welfare standards. Neow cautioned that any immediate relocation could further stress the animals, stressing that their current condition must first be properly assessed by independent experts. “We need experts, zoologists, biologists, experts in wildlife, elephants particularly, to do a proper assessment of their health, mental and behavioural conditions and tell us what should be done. “The zoo has said there is a 25-year agreement. If they are unfit to live in such conditions, are we going to allow them to remain without proper review?” The Taiping Municipal Council had on May 6 stated that Dara, Amoi and Kelat were in good health, had gained weight and would remain in Japan under the long-term agreement. However, Neow said weight gain alone should not be taken as a full indicator of wellbeing, stressing that elephant welfare must also be measured through behaviour, mobility, stress levels and enclosure conditions. He raised concerns over whether the elephants were being kept in an environment that meets their natural needs. “They need green surroundings, they need

o Expert evaluations needed first as immediate transfer from Japan could be stressful for animals, says official

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Dara, Amoi and Kelat – the three Malaysian elephants collectively known as DAK – now at the centre of a growing public campaign, should have their future decided by independent scientific assessment rather than emotion or official assurances alone, said DAK Joint Solidarity Secretariat coordinator Neow Choo Seong. The trio, currently housed at the Tennoji Zoo in Osaka, have become the focus of the #KembalikanDAK movement calling for their return to Malaysia. However, Neow said any decision on their return must be grounded in evidence-based welfare evaluations. “The public reaction is understandable, everyone is using the hashtag KembalikanDAK because they want DAK brought home. “But personally, this has to be science-based and evidence-based, not a call to bring them back immediately,” he told theSun. The three elephants were sent from Taiping Zoo to Japan about two months ago under a 25-year agreement, following a complex relocation process involving sedation,

25-year agreement with Japan reasonable: Perak exco BATU GAJAH: The 25-year international cooperation agreement involving three Malaysian elephants – Dara, Amoi and Kelat (DAK), between Taiping Zoo and Night Safari and Tennoji Zoo Osaka (TZO) has been described as reasonable. Taiping Zoo, while ownership of the first-generation calves has already been determined under the agreement. The first, third and fifth calves will belong to Tennoji Zoo, while the second, fourth and sixth calves will belong to Taiping Zoo. monitor the condition of DAK, which are currently housed at TZO. She said the Wildlife and National Parks Department had assigned mahouts to accompany the elephants during the adaptation process and monitor their condition in Japan.

“So far, we believe the existing mechanism is functioning well. Although the state government has faced considerable pressure, we will not act hastily. We want to ensure every aspect of the cooperation agreement is implemented properly, as the welfare of the three elephants remains our priority,” she said. Earlier, DAK Joint Solidarity Secretariat coordinator Neow Choo Seong described the memorandum of understanding period as excessively long and unreasonable, likening it to a “life sentence” for the elephants, particularly Kelat, which is now 25 years old. – Bernama

“This is part of a conservation collaboration that requires a suitable timeframe,” she said after officiating at the Santai-Santai Open Day Ardea at the Taman Tasik Ardea housing project on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ng said the state government has no plans to establish a special task force to

Perak Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching said the duration was determined based on long-term conservation and breeding efforts, with various views taken into account before the agreement was finalised. “The three elephants remain the property of

“At the department level, mahouts have been sent as Malaysia’s representatives to monitor the elephants and assist them in adapting. Taiping Zoo also receives periodic reports to ensure all three elephants remain in healthy and stable condition.