A tragic human-wildlife incident in Mersing, Johor, has drawn attention in Malaysia after a five-year-old elephant calf was killed in a collision with a vehicle, while the calf's mother remained at the scene for hours, disrupting traffic.
According to Bernama, the crash occurred at 2:28 a.m. on July 1. A 31-year-old man was driving along the road when his car struck the young elephant. The vehicle then reportedly lost control and plunged into a five-meter-deep ravine, leaving the driver trapped inside with serious leg injuries. He was later rescued and taken to hospital for treatment.
Officials said the calf was a female, measuring about 150 cm in length and without tusks. After the collision, the mother elephant stayed near the carcass and was seen wandering along the roadside, at times occupying part of the roadway and causing traffic interruptions.
Authorities arrived later in the morning and, at around 8:30 a.m., safely guided the mother elephant back into the forest. The calf's remains were buried in accordance with procedures.
Local officials said patrols would be stepped up in the coming days to ensure the mother elephant's safety and to prevent her from returning to the crash site. Warning signs have also been placed along the road to alert drivers to the presence of elephants in the area and to urge caution.
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