In the early hours of Thursday, a passenger train derailed after colliding with a herd of elephants in Habarana, resulting in the deaths of six elephants while passengers miraculously escaped injury. Local authorities reported that two additional elephants sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment, marking this event as one of the most severe wildlife incidents in the nation.
Tragic Train Incident Claims Lives of Six Elephants in Sri Lanka
Tragic Train Incident Claims Lives of Six Elephants in Sri Lanka
A recent train accident near a wildlife reserve in Sri Lanka has raised alarms about the dangers posed to elephants and the ongoing human-animal conflicts.
Train accidents involving elephants have become disturbingly common in Sri Lanka, where the conflicts between human activities and wildlife encounters are among the highest globally. Recent statistics reveal that last year alone, over 170 people and nearly 500 elephants lost their lives due to these encounters, with around 20 elephants dying from train strikes annually.
The decline in the elephants' natural habitats due to deforestation and resource scarcity is forcing these majestic animals to venture closer to human settlements. Consequently, several wildlife advocates are calling for measures such as slowing down trains and using horns to alert animals along railway tracks.
This tragic incident echoes earlier fatalities, including a 2018 accident in Habarana where a pregnant elephant and her calves were killed. In a separate incident last October, another train collision in Minneriya resulted in the deaths of two elephants. Sri Lanka is home to approximately 7,000 wild elephants, protected by law and held in high regard by the Buddhist majority. The killing of an elephant is a serious crime that carries heavy penalties.
The ongoing crisis surrounding the protection of elephants in Sri Lanka demands immediate attention as more conservation efforts are needed to ensure the safety of these iconic creatures.
The decline in the elephants' natural habitats due to deforestation and resource scarcity is forcing these majestic animals to venture closer to human settlements. Consequently, several wildlife advocates are calling for measures such as slowing down trains and using horns to alert animals along railway tracks.
This tragic incident echoes earlier fatalities, including a 2018 accident in Habarana where a pregnant elephant and her calves were killed. In a separate incident last October, another train collision in Minneriya resulted in the deaths of two elephants. Sri Lanka is home to approximately 7,000 wild elephants, protected by law and held in high regard by the Buddhist majority. The killing of an elephant is a serious crime that carries heavy penalties.
The ongoing crisis surrounding the protection of elephants in Sri Lanka demands immediate attention as more conservation efforts are needed to ensure the safety of these iconic creatures.
