Program to prevent elephant - train collisions halted - Env. org.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Environmental organizations allege that the program implemented to prevent wild elephants from being knocked by trains has come to a halt.

Senior advisor to the Centre for Environmental Justice Hemantha Withanage said many programs were launched in the past along the Habarana railway line, to prevent the collision of wild elephants and trains.

Two bridges were also planned to be built over the railway line for wild elephants to cross.

Withanage said wild elephants are dying due to the disruption of these plans.

Four elephants died early on Thursday (28) morning after being knocked by the night mail train plying from Colombo to Kankesanturai, between the Galgamuwa and Ambanpola railway stations.

A mother elephant and an elephant calf were killed after being knocked by a train near the 125km post in Palugaswewa in Habarana.

When inquired by News 1st an officer of the Department of Wildlife said wildlife officers have not been deployed to travel in locomotives traveling along the Habarana railway line at present.

He added that elephant-train collisions cannot be prevented by deploying officers in this manner.