KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 2,361 wild animals have died in vehicle collisions across Malaysia since 2020, with Pahang recording the highest number of roadkill cases—765 in total.
Among the deaths were eight elephants, including a baby elephant tragically struck by a lorry on the East-West Highway in Gerik on Mother’s Day.
The gut-wrenching video of the mother elephant trying to free her calf from under the vehicle went viral, triggering a nationwide outcry and renewed demands for stronger wildlife protections.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who revealed the latest figures today, said Perak followed Pahang with 478 recorded deaths, while Kelantan, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan recorded 224, 201 and 187 deaths respectively, Bernama reported.
“If we look at species, elephants recorded eight deaths—one in 2020, two each in 2021 and 2024, and this year there has been three deaths (including the death of the baby elephant that went viral yesterday),” he told reporters during a vehicle inspection operation in Chukai, Terengganu, here today.
He also noted an increase in Malayan tiger roadkills, with no fatalities from 2020 to 2022, but one in 2023, three in 2024, and another already recorded this year.
In response to the crisis, the government has allocated RM250 million this year to expand forest reserves and establish additional elephant sanctuaries in Johor, Pahang, Perak and Terengganu.
The Gerik incident, which occurred at KM80 of the East-West Highway, has deeply affected Malaysians. Mohd Amir Faizal, a volunteer highway patrolman who witnessed the aftermath, described the moment in a Facebook livestream.
“You can see damage at the front of the lorry. But that damage came from the mother elephant repeatedly pushing it, trying to pull her baby out. She kept trying to free her calf over and over again, because it was still alive at that time. But she just couldn’t move the lorry, it was too heavy,” he said.
After being sedated by wildlife officers, the elephant had to be restrained for safety. Amir said she appeared to be crying and reluctant to leave the scene. “I broke down in tears, completely overwhelmed,” he added.
Online tributes have since flooded social media, with many users describing the elephant’s grief as a powerful symbol of maternal love and calling for urgent action to protect Malaysia’s wildlife.
Separately, Nik Nazmi said 90,024 vehicles had been inspected under Ops Gerak as of March, resulting in 248 compounds issued for offences related to exhaust and noise pollution.
During today’s operation, 21 vehicles—including lorries, vans and motorcycles—were checked, with one vehicle cited for excessive noise.
As hot and dry conditions persist, the minister also said he will meet with other agencies to coordinate response measures and plans to raise regional climate concerns with his Asean counterparts. – May 12, 2025