Grieving mother elephant stands watch for hours after calf crushed by truck
The tragic incident took place on 11 May, Mother’s Day, along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway in Malaysia’s Perak state, when a baby elephant was fatally struck by a truck while crossing the road
A mother elephant's heartbreaking vigil beside her calf, killed in a road accident, has drawn widespread sorrow and outrage online.
The tragic incident took place on 11 May, Mother's Day, along the Gerik-Jeli East-West Highway in Malaysia's Perak state, when a baby elephant was fatally struck by a truck while crossing the road.
A viral video posted by Instagram user @jklamlam shows the gut-wrenching scene - the calf lies motionless beneath the truck while the mother stands guard, refusing to leave.
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The footage, recorded on a poorly lit road at night, later shows traffic building up as vehicles wait for rescuers to respond.
Even after dawn, the grieving elephant remained by her baby's side, unmoved by attempts to lead her away, reports the Indian Express.
"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," the Instagram post stated.
"Conservationists, including WWF-Malaysia, are urging immediate action, like speed bumps and dedicated wildlife crossings, to prevent more tragedies," it added.
The video, which has garnered nearly 400,000 views, sparked an emotional response on social media. One user wrote, "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."
Another commented, "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?"
