Snapping the pictures of a bull elephant proved fatal for a young female Australian, who was attacked and killed by the animal while on a holiday trip in Malaysia.

Information furnished by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has identified the victim as 25-year-old Jenna O'Grady Donley, a veterinarian based in New South Wales.

Quoting reports from a Malaysian daily, The Star, Australian officials said that Ms Donley and another female companion were touring the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, located in the island of Sabah, when the horrific accident occurred.

In an interview with the island's State Wildlife Department Director Laurentius Ambu, the local paper was told that the two tourists, together with a guide, had been touring an area surrounding a nearby mud volcano when they opted to make a stop on the wildlife attraction on their way back to a resort, where they were billeted.

The guide informed Mr Ambu that Ms Donley and her friend veered away from the normal trail, bent on capturing images of wild beasts roaming the reserve area when they encountered the bull elephant, which reports said was not part of a herd.

Ms Donley's group, The Star reported, then started taking pictures of the animal and may have ventured too near, which according to Mr Ambu, may have startled the bull elephant that it turned to the tourists and charged them.

The paper said that most of the group members were able to scamper away for safety except for Ms Donley, who was nearest to the animal and bore the brunt of the brutal gorging.

Mr Ambu told The Star that solitary elephants were usually erratic on their behaviour and considered by wildlife experts as relatively more dangerous than those roaming in herds.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry issued confirmation that an Australian tourist indeed died while vacationing in Malaysia, with initial reports provided by authorities indicating that she was a victim of an elephant attack.

The statement added that Malaysian authorities are still investigating the incident and further details should be provided to their Australian counterparts soon.

"We are providing consular assistance to her family in Australia ... and the family has requested that their privacy be respected," the Ministry statement said as reported on Thursday by the Sydney Morning Herald.