Speeding Train Kills Seven Elephants in India

A tragedy occurred in northern district of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, in eastern India on Wednesday. Seven elephants were killed while trying to protect two calves that had become stuck on the tracks. As the adults crowded round the calves the train hit them, killing 5 and fatally injuring two more, which died on Thursday. The calves were among the dead.

One of the Seven Elephants Killed by a Speeding Train. Source: AFP

After the incident, the surviving members of the herd were seen crowding round the tracks, watching over the bodies of the dead. The mourning behaviour of elephants is widely known, and this incident once again shows that elephants are not merely just dumb animals.

It is thought that the train involved in the collision was travelling at 65km/h, which is twice the legal speed limit. There have been around 20 elephant deaths this year alone by train collisions.

Due to human encroachment on jungles and forests, an elephant’s natural home, human/elephant incidences are becoming more and more common. Man’s relationship with the elephant has turbulent, and this sad story just highlights who the losers are.