Jumbo roadblock: Family has harrowing encounter with wild elephants on Malaysia highway
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The car, with five people in it, was surrounded by elephants and shaken “like a cradle”.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM HAKIMZULKIFLII/TIKTOK
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PETALING JAYA – A family experienced a terrifying ordeal when they encountered a herd of wild elephants on Malaysia’s East-West Highway.
Ms Nur Izzatie Zulkifli, 30, recalling the harrowing event, said the car they were in was shaken “like a cradle” when the elephants surrounded it on Jan 18.
She was travelling with her husband and three other family members from Sungai Petani, Kedah, to Ketereh, Kelantan, when the incident occurred.
As their car neared the Pulau Banding area, the elephants unexpectedly emerged from the nearby forest, blocking the road and forcing Ms Nur Izzatie’s husband, who was driving, to stop the car immediately.
“When the elephants charged towards us, I feared our car might flip over,” she told Sinar Harian.
“The animals were aggressive, not only touching the window with their trunks but also rubbing against both sides of the car, causing the car to shake violently.”
Ms Nur Izzatie said the whole family were in a panic, especially her 65-year-old father, who experienced difficulty breathing.
“This is the first time we’ve experienced something like this.
“We knew this was an elephant-crossing area and took precautions such as stopping the car, refraining from making noise or turning on the lights.
“Although it was frightening, we are grateful that everyone is safe,” she said, adding that the front of the car was damaged.
On Jan 18, a video that went viral on social media showed a group of seven elephants surrounding a car.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported Gerik police chief Zulkifli Mahmood as saying that the police had yet to receive any reports regarding the incident.
He advised the public travelling on the highway to be extra careful and watch out for wildlife.
“Road users should avoid provoking the animals and instead maintain a safe distance,” he said in a statement on Jan 19.
“If they encounter elephants, the following safety steps should be taken: Stop the vehicle, allow the elephants to pass, avoid honking, refrain from using high-beam lights and do not engage in any provocative actions that could put themselves in danger.” THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
