Sri Lanka: A passenger train has derailed after colliding with a herd of elephants near a wildlife reserve in central Sri Lanka. While no passengers were injured, six elephants lost their lives in the accident in Habarana, located east of Colombo.
Police confirmed that two injured elephants are receiving treatment, calling it the worst wildlife train collision the country has witnessed. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of human-elephant conflicts in the world, with train accidents frequently claiming the lives of animals.
Last year, over 170 people and nearly 500 elephants were killed in such encounters. Deforestation and habitat loss have increasingly pushed elephants into areas of human activity, leading to tragic happenings on railway tracks.
Local reports indicate that around 20 elephants die in train accidents annually. Conservationists have recommended authorities to implement better safety measures, including lowering train speeds and using warning signals to caution elephants.
Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including a 2018 crash in Habarana that killed a pregnant elephant and two calves. In October last year, another train hit a herd in Minneriya, about 25 kilometres from Habarana, killing two elephants and injuring one.
Sri Lanka is home to approximately 7,000 wild elephants, which are protected under the country’s laws. Killing an elephant is a punishable offence, carrying a fine or imprisonment.
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