Orissa: Elephants fall prey to human activity

Swati Thiyagarajan, NDTV.com September 20, 2007 Two female elephants were killed when a goods train rammed into them in Orissa's Keonjhar district. Two other elephants of the herd trying to cross a railway track have been injured. The track falls on the usual migratory route of the herds. A big male bull with injuries is still at large while two female elephants were killed outright. A baby elephant injured and shocked after the accident has now been removed to the Nandakanan zoo for care. In Kheonjhar, traditional elephant migratory routes and forest corridors have been destroyed by either growing industries or rampant mining. There is no demarcation or study done before mining leases are given out to see how these animals are being affected. ''It's known to everyone that this is where the elephants come and that they have been coming for a long time. So when they planned this track they should have put a signal and should have specified the speed limit. It is just that the government does To read the full story click on the blog title