Though a hue and cry is raised every time a tragedy strikes, the deaths of a large number of wild elephants in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and West Bengal remain a burning issue.
The recent incidents of train hits in these States have drawn the attention of animal lovers and government agencies.
The frequent carnage on the track in the Walayar forest area resulted in the death of 20 elephants in the last five years.
The estimated elephant population in the Walayar forest is around 400.
When the deaths became frequent, a joint meeting of the Forest Departments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Railways last year decided to dig trenches and erect electric fencing on either side of the track. They entrusted the Wildlife Trust of India with studying the problem and suggesting remedial measures.
This move came after the death of a pregnant elephant, along with two other elephants, hit by a train running between Pothanur and Madhukari in the Walayar-Coimbatore section on February 4, 2008. In the impact, the pregnant elephant was delivered of a calf, which also died on the spot.
Dangerous stretch
The fatalities usually occur over a distance of 20 km on the Kerala stretch of the track up to Walayar.
Most of the deaths happen on a two-km stretch on the ghat side where there is a rock cliff (with a few breaks in between, where elephants have made paths to cross the track) and where, immediately after the track, the topography is mostly a steep incline with a few paths through which a human settlement can be reached.
Elephants that see trains approaching them while on this stretch cannot return to the forest or reach the settlement, and are forced to flee along the track itself, with disastrous consequences.
The ‘B Line’ of the Railways that passes through the forest keeps a curved path and it is a blind curve for most of the length, making it difficult for elephants to scramble to safety when they see an approaching train.
Though the Railways have reduced the speed of trains from 100 to 65 km per hour during daytime and to 45 km during night, this cannot save the animals once they are hit. Railway sources said even a hit by a train going at 25 km would prove fatal for elephants.