Intervening to prevent deaths of wild elephants run over by trains and electrocution, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has sent an advisory to all rail zones and the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all relevant States, including Kerala, suggesting some steps for immediate implementation. The advisory was issued in the wake of reports on the growing number of wild elephant mortalities due to these two causes. A permanent coordination committee has been constituted jointly by the Ministry of Railways and the MoEF to share information and monitor the implementation of the advisory.
At the lower level, in order to develop specific strategies, standard operating procedures, and for better coordination, joint committees of zonal railway offices and State forest departments have also been constituted.
“The elephant is included under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to provide it highest degree of legal protection,” the advisory states.
It calls upon Railways to regulate the speed of trains on identified vulnerable wild elephant populated sections between sunset and sunrise.
Railway authorities have been advised to keep railway tracks passing through such forest areas free from food waste that attract these animals and clear vegetation on the sides of rail tracks. While signboards will be put up at select points, sensitisation programmes will be carried out for loco pilots and railway guards.
