SHAH ALAM: A young man witnessed a heartbreaking scene when a wild elephant calf was severely injured after getting caught in a trap near the border of an oil palm plantation, durian orchard, and forest close to Felda Neram Satu, Terengganu.
A 44-second video that went viral on TikTok shows the mother elephant steadfastly staying by her calf, believed to be caught in an illegal wild boar trap set in a sparsely populated area.
What is even more touching is that the mother appeared to be waiting by her calf's side, seemingly seeking help from humans.
According to the TikTok account holder and local resident, Mohamad Affendi Alwi, 34, he was the first to notice the incident after spotting the elephants near the oil palm plantation adjacent to the forest.
"After seeing the elephants, I immediately contacted the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan). Thankfully, they arrived quickly to conduct a rescue operation. The Perhilitan team successfully freed the calf from the trap and released it back into its natural habitat," he told Sinar Harian.
Mohamad Affendi felt compelled to help because it involved the life of a protected animal.
"If we acted too late, the calf might have died because the area is very secluded, with not many people passing by," he said.
He described the rescue situation as very emotional, especially seeing the mother elephant loyally staying by her calf.
"It was heartbreaking to see the injured calf, and the mother just waiting. Even animals understand love. We all have a responsibility to care for nature. Looking into the calf's eyes felt like it was asking for help," he added.
He also expressed his dismay at the irresponsible individuals setting traps indiscriminately.
"I don't think this was done by farmers because the location is not where cows or buffaloes are usually released. The trap was likely set for wild boars or other animals. This incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement against illegal hunting activities that increasingly threaten wildlife species in our country," he said.
