KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 19 -- An activist has renewed calls to bring home three Malaysian elephants from a Japanese zoo, claiming they are showing signs of serious emotional distress.

Dara, Amoi and Kelat have lived at Tennoji Zoo in Osaka since March under a 25-year cooperation deal with Taiping Zoo & Night Safari.

Siti Rabiah Raws of the Environmental Conservation Association of Malaysia said all three have been seen shaking or swinging their heads excessively and repeatedly, which she called "a clear sign of extremely severe emotional distress and possibly the mental disorder zoochosis".

She said such behaviour calls for a professional assessment of the elephants' psychological health, Berita Harian reported today.

Her group has had two...