KUALA LUMPUR: A mission by Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) personnel to help an elephant calf which was stuck inside a narrow roadside drain has touched the hearts of netizens.
Footage of the incident last weekend was uploaded on Perhilitan's official X account yesterday.
The video showed the rescue operation from the Jeli district Perhilitan team in rescuing the elephant calf after falling into the drain.
As members of the rescue team worked together, the little elephant's mother waited patiently at the side, acknowledging the humans' effort to save her baby.
The video gained 140,000 views in under 24 hours after it was posted on the X platform.
"On June 30, 2024, Jeli District Perhilitan officials conducted an operation to rescue anelephant calf that fell into a drain at Mile 13 of the East-West Highway in Jeli, Kelantan," the caption read.
The Perhilitan team successfully lifted the calf from the drain. Once, the young one got to its feet, it was seen joining its mother to leave the place.
Another shot in the same video showed the calf's antics as it tried to walk over the guard rail beside the highway to head back to the jungle with its mother.
The video gained significant attention on social media and amused netizens, sparking conversation from the heartwarming act.
Social media user @AmirPakkam suggested for a government agency to collaborate with Perhilitan to build more wildlife crossings to help animals such as elephants cross highways.
"The Public Works Department should work together with Perhilitan to construct these crossings for the benefit of wildlife. This will prevent any damage by wildlife on highways, while also protecting the wildlife. It could also help with road safety.
Another social media user @ladyDelie was concerned about the mother elephant's wellbeing as the video showed it was stumbling when it was heading back into the jungle beside the highway.
"Is the elephant mother's leg okay, I wonder? She seems to keep stumbling.
"After this, we can take preventive measures like putting a cover on the drain. It's great to see that there is still a new generation of elephants. Thank you, Perhilitan heroes!"
An X user @wagyusedap jokingly commented:
"Oh, that little elephant is so cute!
"The mother must be so frustrated. Once they reach a safe place, its mother will probably scold him out of frustration!"