Following the death of her calf in an early morning lorry accident on the East-West Highway (Jalan Raya Timur-Barat, JRTB), a mother elephant who refused to leave the scene was tranquilized and relocated, as officials are concerned she may return to the site.
According to Sinar Harian, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) had to use a tranquillizer to move the grieving mother elephant away from the site, as she refused to leave her calf’s side.
This action was necessary to prevent risks to road users and to facilitate the removal of the calf’s carcass.
Perak Perhilitan Director, Yusoff Shariff, said that 10 officers from Perhilitan Perak and Kelantan were involved in the operation to help calm the mother elephant.
“We used a tranquillizer with a dosage appropriate to the elephant’s weight to allow her to be relocated to a nearby forest. The relocation site is only about one kilometer from the scene.”
“There is a possibility the elephant may return to the location, but we hope she will encounter another herd and follow them instead,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Yusoff added that a trained elephant or special transport vehicle was not used due to the urgency of the situation and the need to avoid traffic congestion at the site.
Recently, a heartbreaking video that went viral on social media drew widespread sympathy. It showed the mother elephant refusing to leave the scene, seemingly trying to “save” her calf which was stuck underneath the lorry.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Also read: Grieving Mother Elephant Mourns After Her Calf Dies in Lorry Accident
