This is very sad to see. Living in the USA, of course, we don't have elephants' migration routes impacted, but we do have many other large animals' routes affected similarly. In some areas, mainly of automotive highways, for some animals, ramped areas, with tunnels below, have helped reduce deaths. I don't know if creation of such for trains and elephants could be effective. Sad all the way around.
Regards-- Ken. ________________________________ From: Pankaj Oudhia <[email protected]> To: efloraofindia <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, September 24, 2010 3:26:56 AM Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:48263] Re: Shocking news... Thanks Kiran ji. Our Traditional Healers claim that Caryota bark and Feronia fruits in diet play vital role in Elephant's body specially its hearing power. Not aware whether in the said area these are available or not? Shantanu ji any idea? regards Pankaj Oudhia On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 3:40 PM, kiran srivastava <[email protected]> wrote: One of the more serious concerns facing our wildlife today is the gradual squeezing of forest corridors and consequently, isolating forests. Elephants have used the same long migration routes over centuries, and many are through forest corridors. Railway lines cutting across forests corridors is a hazard for all wildlife. Elephants being social tend to look after one another in distress situations and therefore, this species suffers the most as we have read in this case. > >Elephants make low-frequency calls which also generate powerful vibrations in >the ground - seismic signals that elephants can feel, and even interpret, via >their sensitive trunks and feet. They are adept in communicating over long >distances using ultrasound. I wonder why they do not feel the vibration of an >on-coming train and treat it as a danger signal and avoid crossing the tracks? >Elephants learn quickly and the matriarch (leader of the herd) will quickly >realise impending danger and lead the herd away. Perhaps, these were >inexperienced elephants and panicked... > >Sad all the same... > >Regards, >Kiran SrivastavaMumbai > > >On Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 12:25 AM, Shantanu <[email protected]> wrote: > >Yes Pankaj ji.....fences cannot be set up in elephant corridors...they >>need to move from one part of the forest to other for food. It has >>been observed that most of these accidents, take place at night, when >>the elephants are out foraging.... >> >>in this incident,one of the seven elephants was dragged for more than >>400 metres before the train stopped. Two babies and three female >>elephants, one male tusker and a juvenile died.... The West Bengal >>forest dept officials have filed an FIR against the railways, because >>the speed limit of 25 kms have been crossed. >> >>and there has been a sudden spurt in elephant deaths after the line >>was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge in 2004. >> >>Actually this is a vital railway-link between north Bengal and Assam. >>But in that case, the trains should restrict their speed to 25 km per >>hours while passing through the sensitive eleplant corridors. >> >>Please check this link for more info on this mishap.... >> >>http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article790867.ece >> >>Shantanu. >> >> >>On Sep 23, 10:53 pm, Smita Raskar <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Very Sad :( >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >>> On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 10:30 PM, Shantanu <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > Hi >>> > I am sure many members of this group are wildlife-enthusiasts and >>> > animal lovers, and even if not then also ....you will be shocked to >>> > know that Wednesday night, a speeding goods train crushed 7 elephants >>> > when the herd was crossing the line near Binnaguri in the Jalpaiguri >>> > district of West Bengal. >>> >>> > Two babies were stuck in the tract, and five adults came to rescue the >>> > calves , and all were knocked down by the goods train. >>> >>> > Five elephants died immediately on the spot, and other two succumbed >>> > to death on Thursday morning... >>> >>> > More than 20 elephants have died in little more than a year in this >>> > area of Bengal, which is considered to be an important elephant >>> > corridor. >>> >>> > The train was running at 70 kms per hour, while the speed limit was >>> > restricted to a maximum of 40 kms per hour. >>> >>> > In India, the elephant population is depleting fast due to poaching, >>> > habitat destruction and train accidents. >>> >>> > Shantanu. >>> >>> -- >>> Smita raskar >>> M.Sc.(Botany), B.Ed. >>> Biology Teacher >>> Home: >>> 308 Disha Residency, >>> Salaiwada,Sawantwadi >>> Phone (02363) 274153 >>> Mob.9422379568- Hide quoted text - >>> >>> - Show quoted text - >
