Mother Elephant's Desperate Plea: Highway Collision Highlights Need for Wildlife Crossings

A mother elephant's desperate attempt to save her calf after a collision with a lorry on a Malaysian highway has sparked renewed calls for dedicated wildlife crossings. The incident, which occurred early Sunday (May 11) along the East-West Highway, drew widespread attention after footage showed the mother attempting to push the vehicle in a bid to save the calf. "Viral images of a mother elephant nudging a truck to save her calf after an accident in Malaysia has prompted calls for dedicated wildlife crossings in the country," reported Channel NewsAsia. The calf was crossing the road with its mother around 2 am along the Gerik-Jeli stretch in Perak. Wildlife officers later sedated and relocated the mother elephant back into the forest. She is believed to have rejoined her herd. The 5-year-old male calf has been buried at an undisclosed location. This tragic event underscores the need for better infrastructure to protect wildlife.