Wild Elephants Broke a Man’s Legs in a Sudden Attack. Then, They Returned Later the Same Night and Killed Him

A Malaysian logger was killed after being attacked twice in one night by a herd of wild elephants while working at a remote logging site.

Authorities said the victim, 43-year-old Saidi Jahari, was found dead on the morning of October 29 in the Gua Musang district in northern Malaysia, according to reports from Malay Mail, Free Malaysia Today, and The Vibes.

A Two-Part Attack

District Police Superintendent Sik Choon Foo explained that the incident unfolded in two stages. Saidi, who worked as the site supervisor, and five of his coworkers were sleeping in tents when they heard and smelled elephants approaching on the night of October 28. The crew fled into the nearby forest for safety, but Saidi could not escape in time.

When the others returned several hours later, they discovered Saidi alive but severely injured, with both legs broken. They moved him into a communal shelter for protection. Not long after, however, a bull elephant — believed to be the herd’s leader — returned and attacked again, forcing the men to flee once more.

When the group came back after the area quieted down, Saidi was missing. They later found his body on a nearby path, showing fatal injuries consistent with being trampled.

Ongoing Search for the Herd

Authorities said the Department of Wildlife and National Parks had been alerted and is working to locate and contain the elephant herd.

Remembering Saidi Jahari

Speaking to The Vibes, Saidi’s younger brother, Sulaiman Jahari, 32, remembered their final meeting during a holiday celebration.
“I did not expect that it would be our last meeting. Usually, he was quiet and didn’t talk much about work, but during dinner he was cheerful and lively,” he said.

Sulaiman added that his brother had spent three decades in the logging industry, though he had only been at this particular site for about two weeks.
“This area was newly opened for logging. In all his years of work, he had never mentioned encountering wild animals,” he recalled.