PETALING JAYA: A family experienced a terrifying ordeal when they ran into a herd of wild elephants on the East-West Highway.
Nur Izzatie Zulkifli, 30, recalling the harrowing experience, said the car they were in was shaken "like a cradle," when the elephants surrounded their car on Saturday (Jan 18).
Nur Izzatie was travelling with her husband and three other family members from Sungai Petani, Kedah, to Ketereh, Kelantan, when the incident occurred.
As they neared the Pulau Banding area, the elephants unexpectedly emerged from the nearby forest, blocking the road, forcing her husband, who was driving, to stop the car immediately.
"When the elephants charged towards us, I feared our car might flip over.
"The animals were aggressive, not only touching the window with their trunks but also rubbing against both sides of the car, causing the car to shake violently," she told Sinar Harian.
Nur Izzatie said that the whole family were in a panic, especially her 65-year-old father who experienced difficulty breathing.
"This is the first time we've experienced something like this.
"We knew this was an elephant crossing area and took precautions such as stopping the car, refraining from making noise or turning on the lights.
"Although it was frightening, we are grateful that everyone is safe," she said adding that the front of the car sustained damage.
On Saturday (Jan 18), a video went viral on social media showing a group of seven elephants surrounding the car.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported Gerik police chief Supt Zulkifli Mahmood as saying that they had yet to receive any reports regarding the incident.
He said police could not exactly where the incident occurred but advised the public travelling along the highway to be extra careful and watch out for wildlife.
"Road users should avoid provoking the animals and instead maintain a safe distance.
"If they encounter elephants, the following safety steps should be taken: stop the vehicle, allow the elephants to pass, avoid honking, refrain from using high-beam lights and do not engage in any provocative actions that could put themselves in danger," he said in a statement on Sunday.
