Orang Asli woman in ICU after an attack by elephant while looking for durian

IPOH: A 30-year-old Orang Asli is being treated at Hospital Taiping's intensive care unit (ICU) after she was attacked by an elephant in Gerik on Saturday (July 30).

Gerik OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mahmood said the victim was walking to the yard of her house looking for durian when she was suddenly kicked by the elephant at about 6.30pm.

"The distance between the yard and her house was about 20m and she didn't notice the elephant.

"The woman suffered multiple injuries including broken right hand, right foot, and bruises on her stomach," he said on Monday (Aug 1).

Supt Zulkifli said the woman was brought to the RPS Kemar clinic before being rushed to the Hospital Gerik emergency ward.

"We were informed that at around 4pm on Monday, she was transferred to the ICU for further treatment," he said.

Meanwhile, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad had asked state Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to look into measures to prevent conflict between elephants and humans.

"It is not easy to just chase them away. Perhilitan has the expertise and they will see how best to avoid such incidents," he said.