A family’s journey on a Malaysian highway took a terrifying turn when their car collided with a baby elephant, leading to a shocking encounter with a wild elephant herd.
The incident occurred on a foggy evening as the family of three was driving from Penang to Terengganu.
The 48-year-old man, accompanied by his wife and 23-year-old son, was navigating a left bend when their car struck a baby elephant walking with its herd.
According to Zulkifli Mahmood, Chief Superintendent at Gerik District Police, the impact caused the calf to fall, prompting the other five elephants to rush towards the vehicle and trample it.
Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or serious injuries among the family members.
The aftermath of the incident revealed significant damage to the white Perodua Axia, with photos showing the front and sides of the vehicle extensively crumpled and the windows shattered.
The rapid development of highways in Malaysia has encroached on the natural habitat of wild elephants, forcing them to seek food near roads.
Conservationists emphasize the need for caution, as herds of elephants are known to roam the area.
Warning signs about elephant crossings are posted along many highways, particularly in the north, yet accidents still occur.
Despite such precautions, tragic incidents involving elephants on highways are not uncommon.
In a previous incident, a baby elephant was found dead on the roadside in 2017, believed to have been struck by a speeding car.
Conservation groups, like the Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME), continue to address the challenges of human-elephant conflicts in the region.
Wildlife encounters on Malaysian highways are recurrent, with instances like a lone adult elephant strolling along a highway in May 2022 and another distressed adult elephant trampling a car in 2020.
These incidents highlight the delicate balance between human development and wildlife conservation, urging drivers to remain vigilant and authorities to explore sustainable solutions to mitigate such encounters.
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