Surabaya. A viral photo showing a zookeeper standing on a young elephant at Surabaya Zoo has sparked public outrage over alleged animal exploitation, but city officials and wildlife authorities have denied any abuse, saying the act was part of an effort to calm the animal during environmental adaptation.

Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi said Wednesday that an internal investigation conducted by the city inspectorate, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), and Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia’s main elephant conservation center, found no evidence of cruelty or exploitation in the incident.

“The zookeeper climbed onto the elephant not for training or performance, but to calm it down when it became restless after being introduced to a new environment,” Eri told reporters. “Once the elephant relaxed, the zookeeper immediately got off. The experts from BKSDA and Way Kambas confirmed that the animal remains healthy and shows no signs of stress or behavioral change.”

The controversy began after a photo circulated widely on social media showing a caretaker standing on a young elephant’s back, prompting accusations that the zoo was violating animal welfare.

 “Way Kambas experts explained that young elephants can be introduced to their environment under the supervision of their caretakers, starting from an early age,” Eri said. “There was no evidence of forced training or weight-bearing activity.”

The BKSDA also recommended that future introductions of elephants to new environments be conducted in enclosed or controlled areas to minimize stress. It further advised that the same mahout continue caring for the elephant to maintain familiarity and comfort.

“From the inspectorate’s review and reports from BKSDA and Way Kambas, we found no sign of physical or psychological harm. The activity still falls within the boundaries of animal welfare,” Eri said.