Six elephants dead after being hit by train in Sri Lanka

Early Thursday morning, a passenger train derailed near a wildlife sanctuary in central Sri Lanka after colliding with a herd of elephants. The incident occurred in the Habarana area, east of the capital Colombo.

While no passenger injuries were reported, the accident resulted in the deaths of six elephants. Police stated that two other injured elephants are receiving treatment, noting that this is one of the worst wildlife accidents in the country in recent years, according to Agence France-Presse.

Train collisions with elephant herds are not uncommon in Sri Lanka. The casualties from human-elephant conflict are among the highest in the world. According to local media reports, over 170 people and nearly 500 elephants died in human-elephant conflicts last year, with approximately 20 elephants killed by trains annually.

Due to deforestation and resource depletion, elephants' natural habitats have been affected, leading them to increasingly enter areas of human activity. Some have called for train drivers to reduce speed and sound horns to warn animals on the railway tracks ahead. In 2018, a pregnant elephant and her two calves were killed by a train in Habarana when they were part of a herd crossing the tracks at dawn. Last October, another train struck a herd of elephants in Minneriya, about 25 kilometers from Habarana, killing two elephants and injuring one.

Sri Lanka is estimated to have 7,000 wild elephants. These animals are revered by Buddhists and are protected by law. Killing an elephant is a crime punishable by imprisonment or fines.