MERSING: A grieving mother elephant refused to leave the body of her calf after it was killed in a collision with a car at Kampung Pengkalan Bukit Asli here.
Heart-rending videos of the distraught elephant standing over and sitting beside the motionless calf have since gone viral on social media.
The clips also showed the elephant lingering at the roadside, causing heavy traffic congestion as motorists slowed down and carefully navigated around the animal.
Mersing Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Alias Hussin said the female elephant remained at the scene for hours after the calf had died.
“We have informed the Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action,” he said.
The accident occurred in the early hours of yesterday. Mohd Alias said a man was injured after his car struck the calf before plunging into a 5m-deep ravine.
He said the 31-year-old driver was travelling towards Felda Nitar in Kahang, Kluang.
It is understood that the calf was later buried, while the mother elephant was fitted with a tracking collar before being released back into the jungle.
