In the early hours of Thursday, a passenger train derailed after colliding with a herd of elephants close to a wildlife reserve in central Sri Lanka.
In a tragic incident in Habarana, located east of the capital, Colombo, six elephants lost their lives, although passengers on board reported no injuries.
Two injured elephants were being treated, police said, noting that it was the worst such wildlife accident the country had seen, AFP reported.
In Sri Lanka, encounters between trains and herds of elephants are frequent, contributing to some of the highest casualty rates for humans and elephants globally.
According to local media reports, the previous year saw over 170 human fatalities and nearly 500 elephants lost due to human-elephant interactions. Additionally, it is estimated that approximately 20 elephants are killed by trains each year.
Elephants, whose natural habitats are affected by deforestation and shrinking resources, have increasingly strayed into places of human activity.
Some have urged train drivers to slow down and sound the train horns to warn animals on railway tracks.
In 2018, a tragic incident occurred in Habarana where a pregnant elephant and her two calves lost their lives after being hit by a train. At dawn, the trio was observed as part of a larger herd navigating the train tracks.
In October of last year, a train collided with a herd of elephants in Minneriya, located approximately 25 kilometres from Habarana, resulting in the deaths of two elephants and injuries to another.
In Sri Lanka, approximately 7,000 wild elephants roam the landscape. The country’s Buddhist majority holds elephants in high regard and safeguards them with legal protections. Killing an elephant is classified as a crime, and penalties can include imprisonment or monetary fines.
