Endangered Asian elephants are dying violent, unnecessary deaths on India's railways.
As winter approaches, migrating herds on the search for food and water, are forced to cross railways and face real danger from speeding trains. Already one female elephant has been killed in West Bengal, India on 6th November. Her violent, preventable death is yet another problem pushing the endangered Asian elephant to extinction. Many more elephants may die like this before the year is out.
Over the next few months, thousands of elephants will be on the move across India. And their search for food will bring herds into the path of speeding trains. Last year saw a record high of elephant deaths from trains, and we need to put an end to this.
Simple, effective and proven solutions need to be implemented. 'Go Slow' zones have been highlighted whereby drivers are issued warnings to reduce speed and drive with caution. Accident prone areas and blind corners can be cleared of shrubbery to increase visibility and steep banks can be cleared and levelled to allow flat ground either side of the railway. Night patrols are also effective for elephant sightings whereby the forest wardens can radio train drivers. These measures are effective but we need your help.
Please donate to help Elephant Family invest in life-saving projects across India.
We can reduce the risk of elephant deaths across India and your donation will help our vital work in this area.
How your donation could help:
- £8 could provide posters to alert train drivers and passengers to the issues
- £20 could provide a strong flashlight for a night patrol team
- £50 could put a night patrol team on the tracks for a fortnight
- £100 could teach preventative measures to frontline forest and railway staff
- £170 could pay for a warning sign to alert train drivers of accident hot spots
