A new, high-tech device is set to be tested in India that could prevent the rising number of elephants killed by trains.
A decade in the making, the device — developed by Professor Subrat Kar at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi — uses sensors, cameras, and lasers to detect the presence of elephants near the train tracks. Once elephants are detected, the sensors send messages directly to drivers so they can either slow down or stop the train completely.
This device is long overdue and highly needed; India has the highest number of elephant deaths due to trains in the world. Between 1987 and 2017, 266 elephants were killed by trains.
Last year, 12 elephants were killed by trains, but 2018 has already seen the death of 26 elephants due to railway collisions.
In February this year, five elephants were tragically killed when hit by a speeding train. The herd included young calves who were unable to move off the tracks in time; the adult elephants surrounded the babies in an attempt to save them, resulting in the death of two babies and three adults.
Only a month ago, another elephant was killed as it tried to cross the tracks in Assam.
These numbers are shocking, especially since authorities have been trying to address the problem for the last five years. New rules came into play last year stating that trains must go no faster than 30 km per hour in elephant corridors, and wildlife officials are supposed to let the Railways department know about movements of herds close to the tracks. In some spots, there are even speakers which emit the sound of buzzing bees in an attempt to deter elephants.
A LadyFreethinker petition urging India’s Minister of Railways to take action on this issue has reached nearly 18,000 signatures.
Elephant/human conflict is a massive problem for the nation, as the population expands into key habitats and elephants are forced to interact with people and deal with manmade hazards.
Train tracks cross through 20 of India’s 101 elephant corridors, and the problem is only going to increase as infrastructure — including more railway lines — spreads across the country.
With elephant deaths occurring with increasing regularity, this device can’t come soon enough; however, researchers are waiting until the 2019 monsoon season to commence testing at a site in the Rajaji National Park.
“We will install sensors at sensitive spots, and not everywhere,” said Subrat Kar, the developer of the device. “There are known paths along which the elephants move, so we install sensors on these paths, which detect them through bodyrays, cameras, and vibration.
“The success of this preventive measure depends on detecting the elephants much before the train is there. Three kilometers before roughly translates to 3-4 minutes before.
God please help our animals
Please use this device if it will save all the elephants from the trains.
Help the animals!!
Such a tragic photo. How about wildlife corridors? How about curbing the overpopulation of humans on this planet? Not just in India, but EVERYWHERE. Our inexplicable need to reproduce is what is costing so many animals to go extinct on this shrinking planet.
Dear Audriana,
I quite agree that there are too many people on this planet but how to make a decrease the reality?
regards,
Judith
Sincerely hope it works and prevents more deaths of these beautiful creatures!
use fence wired with electric shoclsk to prevent them from crossing
Yes; please lets do everything we can.
HOW BIG DOES AN ELEPHANT HAVE TO BE, TO BE SEEN NEAR RAIL TRACKS?? SERIOUSLY?? WHAT ARE THESE TRAIN DRIVERS DOING?? ARE THEY BLIND OR JUST STUPID MONGRELS?? TO SEE THE DEATH TOLL FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BEGGARS BELIEF!!!!!!!
OKAY, SO SOME CLEVER COOKIE HAS THOUGHT OF A WAY TO TRY & PROTECT THEM, BLESS HIM, WHAT DOESN’T IT AGAIN DEPEND ON THE DRIVER?????? GOD HELP THEM!
My heart breaks for the elephants — I pray the new device will be a game changer for the elephants — they deserve more care, love and respect.
These elephant should get help.
Let’s keep everything crossed this will work. Bless all elephants.
Elephant/human is called a problem for the nation but really it is a problem for the elephants who have been caught in the trap of the human world. I sure this works. Too often (every day)animals suffer because of our presence and actions.
Time for worldwide compassion & change