A HEART-wrenching video of a mother elephant trying to nudge a lorry—believed to have fatally struck her calf—has stirred a wave of sorrow and anger across Malaysia, highlighting the increasingly urgent issue of human-wildlife conflict.
The footage, lasting one minute and 11 seconds, captured the mother’s desperate efforts in the early hours of Mother's Day on the East-West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur-Barat), between Gerik and Jeli. The viral clip, widely shared on social media, shows the elephant refusing to leave the scene of the accident, in what many have described as a powerful display of maternal grief.
Gerik District Police Chief, Superintendent Zulkifli Mahmood, confirmed the fatal incident.
“Owing to the short distance between the elephant calf and the vehicle, the lorry driver was unable to stop in time, resulting in the calf’s death at the scene,” he said.
Following the incident, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) reported that the mother elephant might return to the location due to emotional attachment to her calf.
This deeply emotional event has not only underscored the sentience and bonds of animals, but also prompted renewed scrutiny of Malaysia’s efforts to protect its endangered wildlife.
While elephants are listed as a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716), critics argue that enforcement remains weak, and protection often exists only on paper.
Protected forest reserves, meant to serve as safe zones for wildlife, are increasingly threatened by large-scale land clearing, logging, and uncontrolled development. As their natural habitats are destroyed, wild animals are forced into human spaces in search of food and shelter—often with deadly consequences.
Without robust enforcement against forest encroachment and stricter control of logging under the guise of development, conservation laws risk being reduced to symbolic gestures.
Perhilitan, the implementing agency, has undertaken numerous conservation efforts. However, it continues to face significant limitations, including manpower shortages, inadequate logistics, and restricted enforcement authority.
“Many of the approvals for development fall under state jurisdiction,” noted conservationists, stressing that effective protection requires cooperation between federal and state governments.
A major gap in current policy is the absence of a comprehensive wildlife corridor plan to connect fragmented forest habitats, enabling safer migration routes for animals such as elephants.
There is growing consensus that Malaysia needs a realignment of its conservation policies to reflect urgent ecological realities—not merely aspirational language in official documents.
Public awareness is also key. Conservation is not the sole responsibility of government agencies but a collective duty that includes education and community engagement.
This Mother's Day was marked by more than human celebration—it became a poignant reminder of the deep emotional lives of animals, and a sobering call for a reassessment of how we value and protect all life on Earth. - May 12, 2025
