Hadzil lives to tell the tale of the elephant attack

Charlie, the elephant, broke the chains shackling it and attacked a Wildlife Protection and National Parks Department animal handler at the Sungai Ketiar elephant sanctuary, Tasik Kenyir, yesterday.

baca juga laporan Bernama: Kakitangan Perhilitan Cedera Diserang Gajah Di Tasik Kenyir

KUALA TERENGGANU: Mohd Hadzil Awang is thanking his lucky stars that he escaped an encounter with a wild elephant with just broken ribs and a broken leg.

It could have been worse as he was tossed several metres into the air, landed badly and was trampled by the animal at the Sungai Ketiar elephant sanctuary at Tasik Kenyir yesterday.

The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) staff member is being treated at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital here.

The attack began at 8.50am when the elephant, known as Charlie, broke free of its chains and attacked Hadzil.

By the time his startled colleagues realised what was going on, Hadzil was writhing in pain.
They, however, managed to distract the elephant and went to his aid.

Hadzil passed out soon after with the elephant setting its sights on the sanctuary administrative office.

Charlie damaged a portion of the office before destroying equipment and supplies inside. It then escaped into the jungle.

Hadzil was rushed to the Hulu Terengganu hospital and later transferred to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital.

Hadzil’s mother, Robiah Ismail, was thankful that her son had survived the attack.

“He has been working at the sanctuary for a year now and has never come close to this sort of situation,” she said at the hospital.

Hospital director Dr Mohd Jusoh said although Hadzil’s injuries were serious, he was in stable condition.

The Sungai Ketiar elephant sanctuary, opened to the public in January last year, is a joint venture project between the Terengganu government and Perhilitan.