Latest news with #wildelephants
Free Malaysia Today
21-05-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Car damaged in elephant attack after driver behind honks
The car which was badly damaged in a wild elephant attack along the East-West Highway near Sungai Lebey in Gerik last night. PETALING JAYA : Wild elephants severely damaged a car on the East-West Highway near Sungai Lebey, Gerik, last night in an incident believed to have been triggered by the sound of a horn from another vehicle. The incident occurred at around 8.15pm near KM11, where a driver had stopped his car to allow a herd of elephants to cross the road, Berita Harian reported. Gerik police chief Zulkifli Mahmood said police received a report at 11.36pm from a 39-year-old man who said he had stopped his car and turned off the headlights when a vehicle behind him honked. 'Suddenly, three elephants began approaching his vehicle,' Zulkifli was quoted as saying in a statement. 'In a panic, the driver exited the car to save himself. He later lodged a police police report at the Gerik police station.' Zulkifli said that the front, rear, and sides of the car were damaged although the driver escaped unhurt. He also reminded road users to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines in encounters with wildlife, including by refraining from honking or using high beams and remaining calm. Earlier this month, a male elephant calf was killed along the same highway at KM80 after being struck by a container lorry. The driver told police that he saw a large elephant by the roadside before crashing into the calf as it suddenly crossed. A viral video on social media showed an emotional scene of the mother elephant attempting to move the truck that had hit her baby. She remained at the site for over five hours in a heartbreaking display that touched the hearts of many.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Wild elephants enter Gua Musang school grounds, alarming residents (VIDEO)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — Wild elephants entered the compound of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Chalil in Rancangan Kemajuan Tanah (RKT) Kesedar Chalil, Gua Musang, yesterday, alarming teachers and nearby residents. Residents said it was the first time three elephants had entered the school compound, Harian Metro reported. Sa'rani Hassan, 64, vice president of the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG), said more than 1,500 residents in the area now live in fear due to increasingly frequent elephant sightings. He said wild elephants had entered the village over ten times before, often damaging crops planted near homes. 'The wild elephants are believed to have entered the teachers' housing area at around 3am, damaging fences, coconut trees, oil palms and banana trees nearby. 'At 6.30am yesterday, the elephants were still in the school compound and were eating plants in the surrounding area,' he said. Suhaimi Che Hamid, 54, head of Kesedar Chalil settlers' neighbourhood watch, said elephant incidents have become more frequent in the past month, raising safety concerns among villagers. Kelantan Perhilitan director Mohamad Hafid Rohani confirmed that the department has received complaints from residents and is monitoring the situation.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Car horns trigger wild elephant attack on East-West Highway, one vehicle damaged
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — A Toyota Vios was severely damaged after being attacked by wild elephants at Kilometre 11 of the East-West Highway (JRTB) between Jeli and Gerik last night. According to Gerik District Police Chief Supt Zulkifli Mahmood, the 39-year-old male driver spotted a herd of elephants crossing the road and promptly stopped his vehicle, turning off the lights. However, the situation escalated when car horns sounded from behind. 'Suddenly, three elephants approached the car, prompting the panicked driver to exit the vehicle to save himself. 'After the elephants left, the complainant went to the police station to lodge a report,' he said in a statement. The incident resulted in extensive damage to the front, rear, and both sides of the vehicle, though fortunately, the driver escaped without injury. "Road users are advised to exercise greater caution and follow authorities' guidelines, including refraining from honking or using high beams when encountering elephants," the police official added. Along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway, elephant encounters have increased as shrinking habitats force these animals to cross roads more frequently.
