I felt compelled to express my thoughts on this incident. Honestly, I cried watching the videos and reading the reports. It was heartbreaking to see a mother elephant and her calf struck by a lorry while crossing a road. The mother, wounded but determined, tried to push the trailer, refusing to leave her calf behind. She stood guard for hours until Jabatan Perhilitan (Wildlife Department) arrived and administered a sedative to allow her to be safely moved.
The driver was unharmed, and it should be noted that he had tried to stop the truck, but the emotional toll of the scene left Malaysians in tears — especially as it unfolded on Mother’s Day. It was a powerful and painful reflection of maternal love, and a tragic symbol of the suffering endured by our wildlife.
This incident reminds us that sustainability isn’t just about reducing carbon footprints. It’s also about coexistence—respecting and protecting the animals whose habitats are shrinking worldwide because of human development. As roads continue to cut through forests and wildlife corridors, the responsibility lies with all of us to act. Authorities must install even more prominent signages — “Slow Down – Wildlife Crossing Zone” — and take further steps such as enforcing the speed limits, installing smart barriers, and creating safer animal passages.
Let this not be just another viral moment. Let it be a wake-up call. We owe it to the memory of that grieving mother elephant to care more, to do more, and to live in harmony with the natural world we often take for granted.
We lost more than just an elephant that day — we lost a little more of our humanity. Let’s reclaim it through empathy and action.
