(IN): WPSI online elephant petition

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Link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/356770254

 

 

Target:

Central Government and State Goverments of India

 

Sponsored by:

*S.GURUVAYURAPPAN, PROJECT OFFICER, WILDLIFE PROTECTION SOCIETY OF INDIA*

 

 

*Four elephants died a brutal death when they were hit by a speeding train

in Kurumbanpalayam near Madukkarai, in the Coimbatore Forest division. Two

tuskers, one pregnant female and a calf were hit and killed on the spot. The

impact was so powerful that four bogies of the train were instantly

derailed! One of the tuskers was then dragged for another 250 meters, the

remains of which were hardly recognizable. The mishap took place in

the early hours of the morning at 1.30 AM on 4 February 2008. The train was

traveling at speeds in excess of 135 Kmph, which is way above the norm in

India.*

 

The site falls under the Palakkad Railway division, is a part of Project

Elephant area and is also a frequently used elephant passage. Records

clearly show that in the last 5 years elephants have used this route

consistently on many occasions between the months of November and January.

There are about seven such passages between Madukkarai and Palakkad

(including the Walayar forest area). Being traditional transit paths, these

elephants don't cause any serious damage to human life or property.

 

But when these passages are disturbed and contiguous patches of habitat are

fragmented, the equation changes. The animals are left with no choice but to

stray consistently into human settlements and the stress levels are high,

which in turn leads to intense Human-Elephant conflict.

 

In this decade alone about 15 elephants have been killed in train hits on

this stretch of railway track. The most recent examples prior to this

incident occurred on 28 September 2007 where one tusker was killed by a

train hit in Walayar and 2nd October 2006 when an elephant was killed under

similar circumstances in the walayar forest. Elephants are not the only

victims, large numbers of deer including Sambhar and Spotted deer, monkeys,

and smaller mammals have fallen victim to trains on this deadly stretch of

track.

 

 

Similar accidents are common all over India and are increasing in frequency

by the day. The problem is acute especially in northern states like

Uttarakhand, Bihar and Eastern and Northeastern states like West Bengal,

Orissa and Assam. Countless animals have been killed in these areas in the

last decade which include species like the Tiger and Leopard which are

endangered species. States like Uttarakhand and Bihar have passed orders,

the implementation of which will regulate train speeds in wildlife areas. An

example of this is that speeds of trains passing though Rajaji National

Park, Uttarakhand have been restricted to 20Kmph. Train hit casualties have

dropped to a great extent as a result of such initiatives.

 

The same initiative and efficient implementation of laws is seriously

lacking in most affected states. For example, it is well known that in West

Bengal in spite of a high court order to regulate train speeds, the order

has not implemented. The respective state governments and our organization

(Wildlife Protection Society of India- New Delhi. *

http://www.wpsi-india.org/*) are representing the matter to the Prime

minister and others concerned. We hope that The Honorable Prime minister

will take positive steps to address an issue as serious as this. We do hope

that this issue of train hits will be taken up with the concerned

authorities to rectify the gross mismanagement and flouting of existing laws

which has led to the non-selective and brutal killing of animals. The

Walayar-Coimbatore accidents have also been brought to the notice of the

concerned officials and related departments and we expect some immediate

measures to be taken to save the animals.

*

**We have written a letter to state as well as the immediate Forest and

railway authorities' concerned. The letter includes suggestions such as

restricting the train speed to 20kmph in the wildlife areas and other forest

areas, providing training to locomotive pilots officers of the railway in

this regard, precautionary measures to be taken in wildlife emergencies,

maintaining a database of wildlife presence and movement with the support of

field level staff of railways as well as forest department, studying the

mobility patterns of elephant and other wildlife at crucial points and

elephant passages, immediate arrangements and a temporary mechanism in the

same matter by co-coordinating forest and railway authorities, placing

wildlife sign boards in areas prone to such accidents and to inform the

passengers and locomotive pilots etc. Support and training can be provided

by our organization in this regard.*

 

 

The forest department on the other hand is planning to erect electric

fencing and digging trenches in the passages in Walayar. This is not the

solution to the problem and it will only serve to increase the intensity of

Human-Elephant conflict in adjacent villages. Manipulating the movement of

elephants and other animals will not serve any purpose.

 

 

Another problem faced by elephants face is the blockage and encroachment of

habitat by big educational institutions, industrial and commercial

companies, and the land mafia. This can be witnessed all along the ghat

section and in hilly and forest terrains of the Walayar -Madukkarai belt.

This has led to increased man-animal conflict in this area.

*

The **Forest department, on its part can do a lot to solve the problem. One

among the many ways is to constitute eco development committees comprising

nearby villages where the presence of wildlife, especially the movements of

elephants is high. The forest department can organize awareness programmes

and Wildlife protection programmes during the migratory period. The

Government should encourage such initiatives and fund them adequately. In

turn people will see the need to protect these poor creatures.*

 

*The biggest solution lies in the hands of the Indian Railways and policy

makers. The policy makers have to pass stringent laws regulating train

movement in wildlife areas and the onus of implementation lies with the

Indian Railways.*

 

*The short term solution will be to CUT THE SPEED OF TRAINS TO A MAXIMUM OF

20 Kmph IN WILDLIFE AREAS**

 

The long term solution will be to **RELOCATE RAIL TRACKS TO

NON-FOREST/WILDLIFE AREAS.*

 

*We cannot be mute spectators and watch the Railways add to the injustice

being meted out to the wildlife in India.*

 

Your support and follow up is requested in this regard and please do the

needful including signing this petition.

 

_____________

 

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