Nature’s unpredictability often leads to extraordinary encounters, especially where wildlife roams freely.
In the lush, elephant-inhabited rainforest of Perak, one such encounter unfolded dramatically.
Is it true that a driver escaped unscathed after elephants attacked his vehicle at a point between Gerik and Jeli?
VERDICT:
TRUE
A 39-year-old man narrowly escaped harm after his vehicle was attacked by wild elephants at KM11 on the Gerik-Jeli stretch of the East-West Highway (JRTB).
Gerik police chief Supt Zulkifli Mahmood said that a report regarding the incident was received around 11.36pm on Monday, May 20.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was driving his vehicle from Jeli towards Gerik when he came across a herd of elephants crossing the road.
He immediately stopped his car and switched off the headlights in an attempt to avoid startling the animals," he said in a statement today, May 21.
"He also heard a car horn from behind and suddenly three elephants approached his vehicle. Panicking, the driver exited the car to seek safety," he said.
Zulkifli said the elephants later left the area and the driver proceeded to the Gerik police station to lodge a report.
Based on the incident, he said that the vehicle sustained damage to the front and rear, as well as both sides, but the driver was unharmed.
He advised motorists to be extra cautious when travelling through forested stretches of the East-West Highway, which are known elephant-crossing zones.
"Drivers are advised not to honk or use high-beam lights when encountering elephants and to prioritise safety by remaining calm and inside their vehicles," he added.
