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A Mother elephant’s refusal to abandon her trapped calf at a palm oil estate near Felda Neram II in Kemaman has moved many after a video capturing the emotional scene went viral online.
The one-minute-three-second clip, filmed last Thursday, shows the adult elephant remaining steadfastly beside her calf, even as other elephants in the herd begin to retreat from the scene.
Director of the Terengganu Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Loo Kean Seong, said the calf had become caught in a cattle snare believed to have been set up by local herders in the plantation area.
“We received the report at around 2.30pm and deployed six officers to the site,” Sinar Harian reported him saying on Sunday.
“Upon arrival, we found the young elephant had been caught by the leg in a rope snare. Five adult elephants were nearby, including its mother.”
To safely carry out the rescue, Perhilitan officers were forced to tranquilise the mother elephant temporarily.
“Once the mother was sedated, we drove off the other adults and proceeded to free the calf by cutting the snare,” he explained.
“Fortunately, the calf did not sustain any serious injuries and was in stable condition.”
Following the operation, the mother elephant was administered an antidote and released once fully conscious. She later rejoined the herd.
Loo added that the snare was believed to have been set by a cattle herder who uses the plantation as a grazing route.
“There were earlier reports of wild elephants entering the plantation that morning, and the estate’s management had attempted to drive them away. It is likely the calf became separated and was ensnared while trying to return to the forest,” he said.
The incident highlights ongoing human-wildlife conflict in agricultural zones and underscores the need for sustainable land-use practices that safeguard both livelihoods and endangered species. - June 8, 2025