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Journalism of Courage
TRIGGER WARNING
Losing one’s child is a heart-wrenching pain that transcends species. A recent incident in Malaysia, where a baby elephant crossing the road was crushed under a truck, has left the Internet in tears after the calf’s mother was seen standing guard at the accident site for hours. The incident occurred on the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway in Perak on May 11, Mother’s Day.
The viral video shared by the Instagram handle @jklamlam captures the painful scene on a dimly lit road at night. A calf lies crushed beneath a truck while its mother stands nearby, refusing to leave. As dawn breaks, the video shows a long queue of vehicles in the area, waiting for rescuers to intervene. Despite their efforts to move her, the elephant, which appeared to be devastated, stood firmly beside her calf, unwilling to let go.
Sharing the video, the handle posted, “This tragedy shows the serious danger wildlife face from growing road networks. Since 2020, eight elephants have been killed on Malaysian roads, including three in 2025 alone. The Gerik-Jeli Highway cuts through key habitats like Royal Belum State Park and Temengor Forest, making it a frequent site for animal crossings.”
“Conservationists, including WWF-Malaysia, are urging immediate action — like speed bumps and dedicated wildlife crossings — to prevent more tragedies,” it added.
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The video accumulated nearly 4 lakh views, leaving several social media users angry and emotional. “My heart breaks with hers. I am so sorry we failed you and your baby, sweet mama. We do not deserve to share this earth with such noble beings,” a user wrote.
“Wow they did this ! There is absolutely no way you don’t see a baby elephant crossing the road!! And what did they do to this poor mom?” another user commented. “This is devastating. Action must be done to protect these magnificent creatures,” a third user reacted.
