Six elephants killed as train collides with herd in Sri Lanka

A train struck a herd of elephants in Sri Lanka on Wednesday night, killing at least six of them, according to Sri Lanka Police. 

The incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. at the 140 km mark between Minneriya and Galoya railway stations, the Daily News reported.

While no passengers were injured, a female elephant and an injured calf are currently receiving treatment from wildlife veterinary officers in the city of Giritale.

“According to a statement released by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Railway Department officials, police, and wildlife officers swiftly coordinated efforts at the scene. 

Further investigations into the incident are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision,” Daily News reports.

The collision highlights the ongoing challenge of human-elephant coexistence in Sri Lanka, where elephant habitats continue to shrink due to expanding infrastructure and agriculture. 

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Sri Lankan elephants are the largest and darkest of the Asian elephant species, typically living in herds of 12 to 20 individuals led by the oldest female. They are a major tourist attraction and hold cultural and economic significance for the country.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In October, at least two elephants were killed when a train carrying thousands of gallons of fuel struck a herd in Minneriya, about 200 km from Colombo. The train driver at the time described how the elephants suddenly appeared on the tracks.

“There was about 10 meters (32 feet) between us. So, we couldn’t do anything. We pressed the brakes to their maximum capacity, but there was nothing much we could do. At least four elephants were knocked down,” driver N.W. Jayalath told the Associated Press.