Elephant-train collisions gain attention after herd accidents: DWC

12 August 2025 10:16 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Colombo, August 12 (Daily Mirror) - While claiming that 13 wild elephants have been killed by trains so far this year, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) today said that although several incidents of elephant-train collisions have been reported, they often draw heightened attention following accidents involving elephant herds.

Addressing the media, Director General Ranjan Marasinghe said that apart from recent isolated cases, there has been no significant increase in such collisions, which still account for less than five percent of total elephant deaths recorded nationwide.

He described these incidents as rare and unpredictable due to elephants’ roaming patterns. “If a train comes, it may accidentally hit the elephants,” he explained. Marasinghe added that various projects and preventive measures have been implemented in recent months in collaboration with the Railways Department to reduce such accidents.

“So far, 13 elephants have been killed by trains between January and August this year,” he said, adding that the DWC would continue to intervene to minimise fatalities.

Although today is observed as World Elephant Day, the DWC made no arrangements to mark the occasion, instead focusing on long-term goals outlined in its 2020 plan and moving forward independently from inter-institutional collaborations.

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

Comments - 6

aswin welikala Wednesday, 13 August 2025 01:47 AM

Its a shame that no action has been taken for the last 50 yrs to make overhead passes or underground tunnels for them to move about. Why is the govt not paying any attention to resolve this problem very easily. no point wasting time in having meetings and going to sleep after that

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Mawella K Prematilleke Wednesday, 13 August 2025 06:07 AM

The government should focus on restructuring this Department to protect and safeguard our wildlife without further delay. The officials are by default, utterly lethargic in action, an extremely no use for the benefit of wild life in Sri Lanka. Despite telling, they still have no plans to sustain, mobilize and transfer an injured elephant to a care centre. We saw this when the tasker Bhathiya was murdered to remove his tasks. No sufficient care centers were built, other than longtime Rambukkana and udawalawe. They could collaborate with Kandy Sri Dalada Maligawa, to open a centre for Elephants at Udawattekele. At least DWL was not been able to manufacture a few wooden platforms to nurse Elephants that could have saved the insured Tuskers like Bhathiya, despite the media strongly demanded.The Department or Director had no clue, that 73% foreign tourists visit Sri Lanka to watch elephants and earn $3.5 billion from them, annually.

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S.P.Ramkumar Wednesday, 13 August 2025 06:45 AM

As usual special shapeup and safeguard statement is delivered by DWC. We all must know about Elephants roaming areas and walking paths must be noticed by Wild life departments researchers and notified to Railway departments or make electric fence to safeguards Elephants. identified Elephants pathways area's trainway track must be controlled by Speed. DWC must understand that he is not the owner of the Elephants . Sri Lankan Elephants are national wealth. We have to safeguard our Elephants.

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Wiseman Wednesday, 13 August 2025 07:50 AM

Only solution is to have elevated rail tracks throughout forest regions, that way all wild life can safely roam or cross the tracks under the bridge. It would be one time costly affair.

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Citizen Silva Wednesday, 13 August 2025 08:37 AM

quote : "Marasinghe added that various projects and preventive measures have been implemented in recent months in collaboration with the Railways Department to reduce such accidents." Can Mr. Marasinghe list out the measures the Dept has implemented to reduce this issue? What nonsense are these guys talking? This has been going on for the last 5 years no proper solution has been reached.

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Lalith de Kauwe Thursday, 14 August 2025 03:21 AM

Lessons should be learnt from Tamil Nadu’s AI-enabled system that has been successful in preventing elephant-train collisions on Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

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