A family’s car was trampled Sunday by a herd of wild elephants in Malaysia after it accidentally hit a baby elephant on a major highway, CNN reported.
The driver, a 48-year-old man, along with his wife and 23-year-old son, encountered the herd while navigating a bend in foggy and drizzly conditions, according to CNN.
“The car slammed into the young elephant that was walking on the road with the herd,” Zulkifli Mahmood, Chief Superintendent at Gerik District Police, said, per CNN. “Seeing this, the other (five) elephants rushed towards the car and started trampling it.”
The animals then left the scene after the baby elephant “got back up”, Mahmood said, according to the outlet.
Elephants trample car after it hits calf along Malaysia highway https://t.co/PGHB4dqSF1 pic.twitter.com/e7CMW9N4oO
— CNA (@ChannelNewsAsia) November 27, 2023
Mahmood confirmed the incident, noting the extensive damage to the car, including smashed windows and caved-in side doors. However, no deaths or serious injuries to the family were reported, the outlet noted. (RELATED: Knockin’ Down Trees And Everything! Gargantuan Elephant Bulls Brawl It Out Like The True Powerhouses They Are)
The condition of the baby elephant was not specified in the police statement. Gerik police have urged drivers to be more cautious, especially in areas known for elephant crossings, the report says.
In recent years, there have been several similar incidents in Malaysia. In 2017, a baby elephant was found dead on a highway, and in May 2022, an adult elephant was seen walking along the same highway. Another distressing incident in 2020 involved an adult elephant trampling a car after being startled by honking vehicles, CNN reported.