An Orang Asli woman suffered a broken hip and a shoulder after an elephant on rampage hit her with its trunk in Pantai Burung, in Endau-Rompin National Park near Mersing yesterday.

Acting Mersing police chief ASP Muhd Toff Maaroff said the mishap occurred at 6.30pm when Zubedah Ayong, 19, was picking ‘ pucuk paku’ (wild fern shoots) with her sisters Roslina, 28, and Rasidah, 30, in Kampung Peta.

“Several staff members from the National Park as well as villagers managed to rescue the woman,” he told Bernama when contacted in Johor Baru today.

He said Zubedah was taken to Mersing Hospital and was later referred to  Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Baru.

Relating the incident, Zubedah said they were shocked when a mother elephant and her two calves suddenly marched towards them.

“We ran for safety, but I stumbled and fell. That was when the elephant hit

me with her trunk," said the traumatised woman.

    

Zubedah said she was grateful the the elephant and her calves continued running towards a nearby river without causing them any more harm.

“I think the elephants have no intention to hurt us. They were probably just shocked to see us there,” she said.

Meanwhile, Johor National Park Corporation director Suhairi Hashim said the Endau-Rompin National Park was temporarily closed to visitors following the incident.

He said a report on the incident had also been lodged at Kahang police station.

“This is the first incident in Pantai Burung. However, we have heard that a herd of 30 elephants had went on a rampage in the area, to the extent of chasing the staff at the National Park complex,” he said.

    

As a precautionary measure, he said they had instructed 30 visitors and researchers at the park to evacuate until the situation returned to normal.

He said they would also monitor the situation at the Orang Asli settlement in Kampung Peta to ensure their safety.

- Bernama