KUALA LUMPUR – A Toyota Vios was severely damaged after a herd of elephants attacked the vehicle along KM11 of the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway (JRTB) last night, in an incident believed to have been triggered by a car horn.
The driver, a 39-year-old man travelling from Jeli to Gerik at around 8.15pm, had stopped and switched off his headlights after spotting a group of elephants crossing the road near the East-West Highway Memorial Monument.
However, a vehicle behind him reportedly honked – startling the elephants.
“Three elephants approached the car, prompting the driver to flee in panic,” said Gerik district police chief Zulkifli Mahmood in a statement today. “The vehicle sustained damage to the front, rear and both sides, but the driver was unharmed.”
The driver lodged a police report at 11.36pm.
Perak Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff told NST that six elephants were involved, including a tuskless adult male showing aggressive behaviour.
Four Civil Defence Force personnel were present and tried to drive the animals away.
“The report we received confirms the involvement of six elephants, and one of them was in an agitated state,” Yusoff said.
Videos showing the damaged white car have gone viral on social media and marks the latest in a series of alarming elephant-related incidents in Peninsular Malaysia.
On May 11, a lorry struck and killed a male elephant calf along the same highway at KM11. A heart-wrenching video showed the calf’s mother desperately attempting to push the vehicle to free her offspring.
Perhilitan later confirmed the grieving adult female had to be captured for relocation as she refused to leave the site.
Separately, on May 12, a couple narrowly escaped injury after crashing into an elephant that crossed their path in Kota Tinggi, Johor. Their Perodua Alza was badly damaged, and the elephants retreated into nearby forest.
The spate of incidents has sparked renewed concern over the growing frequency of human-wildlife conflict. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad described issue as “a stark reminder of the growing challenges in human-wildlife coexistence.”
He said Perhilitan recorded eight elephant roadkill deaths in Peninsular Malaysia over the past five years, including three this year alone. From 2020 to 2024, there were 4,919 cases of human-elephant conflict, with property damage totalling RM39.4 million.
Studies have shown that elephant roaming areas have shrunk by 68% due to land-use changes such as plantations and infrastructure development. The JRTB itself cuts through a critical corridor connecting forest reserves in Perak and Kelantan, making it a hotspot for wildlife crossings.
Since 2020, 2,361 wild animals have been killed in road accidents nationwide, with Pahang logging the highest number, followed by Perak and Kelantan.
Zulkifli urged motorists to exercise extreme caution in wildlife zones, especially at night.
“Do not honk or use high beams when encountering elephants. Follow the safety guidelines issued by authorities,” he said. – May 21, 2025