A speeding goods train has crushed seven elephants to death in eastern India, after the animals apparently tried to rescue two calves that had become stuck in the tracks.
Conservation officials say the baby elephants got trapped as their herd crossed the line in the northern district of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal state.
Adult animals crowded around the stricken calves, and were hit by the goods train.
"Five elephants died immediately on the track while two others succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning," Atanu Raha, West Bengal's chief forest conservator said, adding that the train was travelling at 70 kilometres an hour when the speed limit was restricted to a maximum of 40 kph.
He said traffic on the line was suspended while the carcasses were removed, and that the surviving members of the herd were still at the scene the next morning.
Mr Raha said more than 20 elephants have died in the past two years in the area, which is a known corridor for elephants.
"We have lodged a complaint with the local police station against the railway," he said.
Wildlife experts say India is home to an estimated 25,000 wild elephants but their numbers are in decline due to poaching, habitat destruction and train accidents, especially in the east and northeast of the country.
Earlier this month India's environment and forest ministry declared elephants a "national heritage animal" that should be given the same protection as the endangered tiger.
Source:http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201009/3020725.htm?desktop
Photo credit: AFP
1 comment:
It was very sad to hear about this incident.
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