A mother elephant was seen repeatedly headbutting a lorry after her young calf was tragically killed in a highway accident in Perak.
The grieving mother remained by her calf’s side well into the morning, as captured in a heartbreaking video taken by bystanders who sympathised with her loss.
In the night-time footage, the mother elephant is seen pressing her head against the side of the lorry, seemingly trying to free her lifeless calf trapped beneath the vehicle.
According to Gerik District Police Chief, Superintendent Zulkifli Mahmood:
“Initial investigations revealed that the 28-year-old lorry driver noticed a large elephant on the shoulder of the road.”
“As he continued driving, a baby elephant suddenly emerged and attempted to cross. The short distance made it impossible for the driver to stop in time, resulting in a fatal collision,” he shared.
The baby elephant died at the scene.
“The mother elephant became agitated and damaged the front of the lorry.”
The video has drawn widespread sympathy from netizens, with many calling for improved road conditions and better wildlife protection measures to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Also read: Sabah Minister Vows to Hunt Down Poachers Following Discovery of Decapitated Elephant