CHUKAI: The Terengganu branch of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) is tracking a herd of wild elephants that was hit by a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) at KM274.6 of the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), near the Cheneh Toll Plaza interchange, on Tuesday (Aug 4) night.
State Perhilitan director Dennis Ten Choon Yung said the department is using drones to monitor the location and movements of the herd in the vicinity of the accident site.
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He said the elephants are believed to have emerged from the Bukit Bandi Forest Reserve, located about 8km from the scene of the accident.
Dennis said six Perhilitan personnel were deployed to the accident site from 12.30am Wednesday (Aug 5) to carry out monitoring and control operations, including in the surrounding Cheneh area.
"The operation is aimed at determining the herd's location and movements, while ensuring the safety of highway users," he told Bernama Wednesday.
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He said Perhilitan would also take the necessary action if the herd was found to be still in the vicinity of the highway.
He also advised motorists not to panic if they encountered wild elephants, but instead to avoid approaching them or throwing objects at the animals, as this could provoke them.
Motorists are also advised not to sound their horns, use high beams or flash their headlights at the elephants to avoid making the animals feel threatened or behave aggressively.
"Motorists are also urged to give the elephants enough space to cross safely and maintain a safe distance to avoid any untoward incidents," he said.
Earlier, Bernama reported that a husband and wife were injured after the MPV they were travelling in collided with a herd of wild elephants at the location at 10.20pm Tuesday night.
Kemaman OCPD Supt Mohd Razi Rosli said in the incident, Abdul Wahid Ismail, 55, sustained minor injuries to his left hand, while his wife, Fauziah Muda, 52, injured her right hand. - Bernama
