IPOH: A young elephant calf was mowed down in a road accident involving two vehicles at KM50 of the Gerik-Jeli road, which is known for wildlife crossings.
All passengers inside the sports utility vehicle (SUV) and the car sustained light injuries.
Gerik OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mahmood said they received information about the incident at 8.30pm on Sunday.
“The 35-year-old driver of the SUV, along with two other passengers, aged 39 and 44, were travelling from Pasir Mas in Kelantan towards Gerik when he crashed into the elephant which was crossing the road.
“At the same time, the 39-year-old driver of the car behind, who was travelling with his wife and three children, hit the back of the SUV.
“The impact resulted in the death of the elephant,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The carcass of the elephant had been handed over to the Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), he said.
“Motorists are urged to be more careful when driving along that road as that stretch is known for wildlife crossings, especially elephants,” he added.
Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff said the carcass of the female calf would be buried in Gerik.
Last month, a man escaped unhurt after the vehicle he was driving crashed into an elephant at Kampung Kolam, Setiu, in Kuala Terengganu, leaving the animal injured in one leg.
The female elephant was later captured by the Perhilitan office in Besut.
