On Malaysia’s East–West Highway, a baby elephant was struck and killed by a livestock truck near Gerik.
Footage of the grieving mother went viral, leaving millions in tears.
A Mother’s Desperation
Witnesses described her actions as “frantic and heart-shattering.”
She circled the truck, nudging it and trumpeting in distress, standing guard beside her calf.
One observer wrote, “Just imagine, a pregnancy of 18–22 months, walking with her calf every day to forage, and now she waits, but the child is not coming out.”
Shared Grief
Videos spread online, especially poignant on Mother’s Day.
Netizens wrote, “How sad it is for the mother,” and “It’s as though she still believes her calf is alive.”
The incident highlighted that animals also feel love and grief.
Urgent Solutions Needed
The highway cuts through elephant habitats, causing repeated accidents.
Experts call for wildlife crossings, better lighting, and speed enforcement.
The Perak Elephant Sanctuary aims to help, but completion isn’t expected until 2029.
