DENPASAR ~ After discussions about the legality of permits for eight elephants owned by the Safari and Marine Park in Gianyar, the governor of Bali decided they should not be allowed to stay, an official said.

Governor I Made Mangku Pastika said the issue had been talked about too long and the elephants should just be sent back to the safari park in Bogor where they came from.

In a letter to legislators last week, Pastika said there were already too many elephants in Bali, which was not part of their natural habitat.

He said there would have to be new legislation on the maximum number of elephants allowed into Bali to prevent any potential environmental problems.

An official at the governor’s office, Putu Suardika, said he did not know when the elephants would be sent back.