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New Delhi: In the early hours of February 4, 2008, a pregnant elephant, along with two others, were crushed by a speeding train passing between Pothanur and Madhukkari stations, about 20 kilometres from the textile town of Coimbatore. The impact so severe, caused the elephant to deliver a calf that died on the spot.
However, this was not a solo incident. Earlier in 2000, five pachyderms, including three adults and two calves, were mowed down by a speeding train in Hosur subdivision of Tamil Nadu, in the forests bordering Karnataka.
The mortality rate of Asian elephants are alarmingly escalating over the last few years. One of prime reasons besides poaching, is train accident. Media and non-profit organisations have brought to the fore such incidents of speeding train killing herd of elephants while crossing railway, before as well, but to no resultant checks.
There may be a few stray steps taken by the government, but till date there are no concrete guidelines and national policy to address this grave issue. It became all the more important in view of the fact that India is home to 60 per cent of the remaining Asian elephant population, making their survival in India critical to the survival of the species as a whole.
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Ironically, the official mascot of the Indian Railways is an Elephant, named 'Bholu'. It was on the occasion of Indian Railway's 150th year, a cartoon elephant 'Bholu' was adopted as Mascot by the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpaye. A real-life elephant also marked his presence on the celebrations.
According to a survey conducted by Wildlife Trust of India, in the past two decades, the number of elephants have been dropped by over 50 per cent. According to rough estimates, India has 25,000-40,000 Asian elephants which constituted 60 per cent of the remaining Asian elephant populations. About 88 corridors are said to have identified in India, not all yet some of the corridors have laid railway tracks.
In February 2008, PETA (People of Ethical Treatment of Animal) issued a letter to the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav with some valuable suggestions.
The letter suggested to reduce speed of the train by 20-km per hour in the forest corridors, facilitating clear view for the drivers by removing mounds and bushes at turning, altering train schedules which chugs during evening and nights and maintaining records of elephant's mortality round the year.
