Trains- The unquestioned death trap for elephants
- by: Pablo Tachil/ Azam Siddiqui
- recipient: Shri Naranbhai Rathwa, Minister of State for Railways, Government of India, email: msrn@rb.railnet.gov.in
Yet another way of how we are fast loosing the elephants in India is the increasing numbers of run overs by speeding trains.
It not a Natural Disaster, it is something which we have given birth to for the sake of 'DEVELOPMENT'- do we really want the elephants to roam this country ??
Meetings, suggestions, nothing so far has been able to arrest this man made menace.
People all over the world LOVE & CARE for elephants and don't like to see them used and abused - and die unnatural ! ! !
For the world to see what happens to these and other animals this petition has been created - the tracks are a dangerous place, these accidents happen everywhere, we hear about it all the time so it would be wonderful to see India take the first big step in making the tracks safer for the wildlife !
Please send in your valuable suggestions and voice for these 'Gentle Giants' and help the Indian Railways in protecting the 'Beast', their 'Machines' and Mankind.
Dear Shri Naranbhai Rathwa,
Over the past 10-15 years documented cases of elephants coming under trains has exceeded 150 let alone the scores of endangered animals like tigers, leopards,etc that have also fallen victims to this.
Careful observation would make it crystal clear that these instances have occured when tracks are laid through the jungles, in the elephant corridors and wildlife habitats without the consultation of a wildlife expert/ consultant.
On a wider frame, the risks posed to the trains and the scores of passengers travelling in it also cannot be ignored. A speeding train knocking a 1 ton obstruction (unfortunately a living animal as an elephant in this case) can derail the train and cause damage to property and loss of precious lives (both elephant and humans).
We would request you to thereby take this as a more than serious matter worthy of investigation and further study. Such unfortunate instances need to be avoided and necessary steps need to be employed to prevent the same.
We are more than willing to help our government in every possible way to solve this issue at the earliest. We can work on possible solutions and submit a draft for your reference too.
