Calves missing after train kills she-elephant

Wildlife department officials are searching for two elephants calves which fled to the nearby forest after their 25-year-old mother was killed by a train.

A senior wildlife department official said the incident occurred at Piliyarandi in Welikanda on Thursday night when the Minagaya train collided with the she-elephant who was moving across the rail tracks. He added the railway track runs through an elephant corridor and is regularly used by the pachyderms.

Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), Chandana Sooriyabandara told the Sunday Times that the department believes, the calves may have fled to Maduru Oya National Park or Thrikonamdu Nature Reserve.

Mr Sooriyabandara said his department have warned engine drivers to slow down in areas known to be areas where elephants-cross. He added the department was planning to send wildlife officers in train engine to warn engine drivers of elephant corridors ahead of them.

He explained that they had also requested researchers and environment protection organizations which collaborated with railway department regarding pilot projects to avert elephants being knocked down by trains, to help via provision of literature and/or technical advancements and systems to warn engine drivers’ of elephants crossing the tracks.

“Government funding is necessary, and therefore concerned parties could do their bit by submitting plans in writing to prove the efficacy of their plans. It is only after this process is completed, will we be able to forward them to government for costing and implementation.

Unfortunately no plans have reached us as yet,he said.

Meanwhile the General Manager of the Railways Department Delantha Fernando claimed that according to the information he received, the spot where the accident took place was not at an identified elephant corridor.

He added the engine driver had not been alerted of the herd of elephants crossing the track.

The GM said railway officials and a number of non-government environment groups were investigating into the incident.

Mr. Fernando informed correspondents the RDA had designed five over head bridges to be built at five selected elephant crossings in selected areas. He expected work on constructing the overhead bridges would commence in collaboration with the DWC.

Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), Chandana Sooriyabandara told the Sunday Times that the department believes, the calves may have fled to Maduru Oya National Park or Thrikonamdu Nature Reserve