An elephant mother’s grief, a nation’s wake-up call

Photo: WWF-Malaysia

FEMALE elephants have a gestation period of approximately 22 months and usually give birth to just one calf at a time. The emotional bond between mother and calf is profound, and the loss of a calf is nothing short of devastating.

This is why the incident on Sunday, which was Mother’s Day, along the Gerik-Jeli Highway has touched so many: A mother elephant seen grieving by her fatally injured calf is a poignant and painful image that speaks volumes about the cost of our inaction.