It’s A Swimming Elephant!

Elephants are wonderful animals, but unfortunately, the elephant population in the wild is decreasing due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting for their tusks.

Photo: Twitter (@PERHILITAN)

Looking at the physical appearance of an elephant, many might not even think that they are actually good swimmers!

Recently, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) shared a video on Twitter showing a male elephant swimming across the river at Tanjung Mentong, Taman Negara Terengganu. 

Kita mungkin berfikir, gajah akan tenggelam sebaik sahaja mereka masuk ke dalam air kerana saiz tubuhnya yang besar dan berat. Namun, gajah adalah perenang yang sangat hebat! Ketika di dalam air, gajah dapat berenang dan menggunakan belalai mereka untuk menyelam dan bernafas.

— Jabatan PERHILITAN (@PERHILITAN) February 10, 2020

The two-minute video has been viewed by over 145.3 thousand people and has 7.1 thousand retweets and 8.2 thousand likes.

The video received a lot of attention, especially from animal lovers.

Others were more interested to know how PERHILITAN ensures the safety of the elephant while they escort it back to dry land… 

Seronoknya tengok haiwan haiwan bebas macam ni... I minta kita semua jaga alam sekitar kita dan cintailah alam 😭😭😭...

— Cik penyu (@erulnyyzam) February 10, 2020

Not all heroes wear capes. Thanks PERHILITAN!

— E. Zat (@DoubleeZat) February 10, 2020

Tetiba rasa nak nangis tengok😭 Harap taman negara ni dijaga dgn baik.

— 이주 (@Izzuexdn) February 10, 2020

Mungkin Perhilitan boleh menerangkan mekanisme & cara gajah tersebut berenang.

— moedjadkae (@moedjadkae) February 10, 2020

im hoping authorities & gov can do more than now protecting our animals.

— yennéfer (@quehqoci) February 10, 2020

We can’t help it either, he is the cutest! 

By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat