According to local police, a herd of wild elephants in Malaysia trampled on a car after it struck a baby in their group.
According to a police statement in Gerik, Malay Peninsula, a white Perodua Axia car was driven by a 48-year-old man, his wife, and his 23-year-old son.
At around 7.35 p.m. local time on Sunday, the family of three was driving on a major highway from the island of Penang to the northeastern coastal state of Terengganu when it hit the elephant calf.
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According to Gerik Police, It was raining and misty then, and the car was trying to turn a corner on the highway when it hit the baby elephant.
"The car slammed into the young elephant that was walking on the road with the herd," stated Zulkifli Mahmood, Chief Superintendent of Gerik District Police. He said, "The calf fell to the ground upon impact."
"Seeing this, the other (five) elephants rushed towards the car and started trampling it."
According to Mahmood, after the calf "got back up," the herd left the area.
The Gerik Police Department did not indicate whether the three family members were inside the automobile at the time of the incident, but no deaths or significant injuries were recorded in the police statement.
The photos presented showed considerable damage to the front and sides of the white vehicle and caved-in side doors. All of the windows were smashed as well.
Authorities have not provided any more updates on the elephant baby's condition.
According to conservationists, due to Malaysia's rapid expansion of highways, wild elephants across the peninsula have lost vast amounts of forest cover, forcing many to come to roadways for food.
Following the latest accident, Gerik police cautioned vehicles to be extra cautious on roadways because elephant herds frequent the area.
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