The building of railways across prime areas of habitat is another threat to the Asian elephant’s survival. In fact, in the past ten years around 50 elephants have been killed as they made their majestic way across the tracks.
In 2002, a pioneering project led by the Wildlife Trust of India put a stop to such elephant deaths in Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand State. And so we’ve been working with them since 2008 to replicate its success in Assam.
The measures put in place are simple – yet extremely effective. They include the introduction of ‘go-slow’ zones, the clearing of shrubbery and levelling of steep embankments around blind spots, and the formation of night patrols to alert train drivers to potential danger.
Preventing Train Deaths Project
Aim:
To eliminate collisions between trains and elephants in Assam.
Results:
Unlike the contained space of Rajaji National Park, the problem in Assam is spread over a vast area, with sites up to 700km apart, nine important habitat areas and 26 critical railway sections. We have therefore had to focus our attention on key areas and develop intervention measures that are site-specific. In order to do so much time has been invested researching issues related to elephant movement, critical track sections, surrounding habitat, and other contributing factors to accidents.
Initiative elements that have been implemented in 2009 include: the installation of signs, levelling of embankments, clearance of vegetation and a continuing assessment of driver attitudes and experiences. A night patrol of government and project staff has been operating which has already averted 59 potential incidents when elephants were discovered roaming close to the track.
While this project is still in its early stages there have been no deaths on the nine sections covered by the Wildlife Trust of India since they began their work.
Status:
Supported since 2008
