A YOUNG male elephant was found dead by the roadside at KM11 of the Gerik-Jeli stretch of the East-West Highway, believed to have been hit by a heavy vehicle, early yesterday morning.

Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks director Yusoff Shariff said it was suspected that the elephant, believed to be between four and five years in age, was hit by a lorry or bus at about 5am.