Choi is a male Asian elephant born on May 26, 2013, at Kyushu Natural Animal Park (African Safari) in Oita Prefecture, Japan.
In December 2023, he was transferred on loan to Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo as part of a breeding program with the female Asian elephant Midori. Previous breeding attempts with the male Asian elephant Mac at Kobe Oji Zoo were unsuccessful, and Midori returned to Miyazaki in September 2019.
As part of Elephants in Japan’s latest investigation into the welfare of solitary elephants in Japan, animal welfare consultant Georgina Groves visited Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo in October 2025. Choi could not be observed because he remained inside the indoor facility throughout the visit. Zoo staff reported that Choi was in musth, a natural period of heightened testosterone in male elephants that is associated with increased sexual activity and can involve heightened aggression, and was therefore being housed separately from Midori. Staff also reported that Choi and Midori had fought and that Choi had injured Midori. The elephants were alternated in their use of the outdoor enclosure, with Choi typically given outdoor access outside public visiting hours.
As Choi could not be directly observed, no individual welfare assessment of him was possible during the visit.
