Throughout evolutionary history, animals have depended upon their instincts for the sake of survival. From the way some species of birds migrate hundreds of miles ahead of winter, to how certain spiders in Australia instinctively move for higher ground during flood season, they all share an inherent and unspoken knowledge as to how to best navigate and adapt to the world around them.
Elephants seen moving up for higher ground in Kelantan
And for a group of local motorists, they were lucky enough to witness one such phenomena play out before their own very eyes, after spotting a herd of wild elephants moving up a hill located alongside a Gua Musang highway in the Northern state of Kelantan.
In a video shared by TikTok user @aimantransport, a number of motorists could be seen stopping their cars along a highway as they watched three of the gentle giants slowly lumbering their way along the elevated slope among lush greenery, appearing almost akin to a scene from a wildlife documentary.
The incredible sight has since gone viral across the local social media space, with many curious netizens left spellbound.
“Wow, this is so great. It’s like watching it in front of a stage.”
“For all the time I have been living in Gua Musang, I have never seen anything like this. You really are lucky!”
Others have speculated that this could be indication of inclement weather, based upon anecdotal advice passed down from their ancestors.
“If elephants start climbing up hills, then you should be on standby. My ancestors always advise that this could be a sign of natural disaster. Wallahualam.”
“If animals start looking for higher ground, then you know what will happen next. That’s what my ancestors used to say.”
A sign of bad weather to come, according to Orang Asli communities
And according to local Orang Asli communities, this may in fact be true. In speaking with 38-year-old Orang Asli villager Pelinejon Assut, local paper Kosmo! reports that the sighting of animals such as elephants steadily moving for higher ground suggests that bad weather may fast be approaching.
“Aside from having their habitat disturbed or looking for food, we do not discount the possibility that these elephants are indicating that a natural disaster may be approaching.
This is why the Orang Asli community is using this as a sign to prepare for the upcoming monsoon season.” he said.
He adds that this was based upon advice that was handed down from generations of Orang Asli, where they would take into account animal behaviour in their daily lives.
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Also read: Wild tiger allegedly struck by a car in Kelantan while it was running across an unlit road
