DEADLY TRACKS

Railway Ecology

The extensive network of the Indian Railways cuts through several forested landscapes, resulting in collisions of trains with a variety of wildlife species, including the largest land mammal-the elephant. In India, railway lines cross elephant habitats in several states, with accidents that resulted in more than 200 elephant deaths between 1987 and 2015. As the 161-km Siliguri-Alipurduar track in the northern West Bengal state witnesses train-elephant collisions frequently, we developed a case study there with the objectives of mapping locations of collisions and generating a susceptibility map showing locations prone to accidents. We mapped elephant crossing points and movement paths along this railway track, as well as accident locations. Between 1974 and 2015, collisions occurred throughout the line, although there were several hotspots where elephant deaths were concentrated. A disproportionate number of accidents occurred during the night. Crop raiding in villages and train elephant accidents seem to be closely related, probably due to an increased frequency of elephant movement near or across this railway track during the cultivation season. Male elephants were much more prone to accidents, possibly because of behavioural characteristics that make them cross railway tracks more frequently. To reduce the frequency of accidents in this region, we recommend reducing the speed of trains, limiting the operation of trains during at night, provisioning overpasses and underpasses, using communications technology, realigning a portion of the track, and fencing the track except for corridor areas.

Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) deaths due to train accidents are not unusual in some range states of India. During 1987-2007, 150 elephants died due to train hits across India, of which 36% of incidents occurred in Assam, 26% in West Bengal, 14% in Uttarakhand, 10% in Jharkhand, 6% in Tamil Nadu, 3% in Uttar Pradesh, 3% in Kerala and 2% in Orissa (Rangarajan et al. 2010). There has been an increase of Elephant Train Collisions (ETC) since 2007 in West Bengal. The elephants of North West Bengal (NWB) represent the western-most extension of the northeast Indian subpopulation of elephants. The total extent of NWB is 7050 km2, of which 3051 km2 is forested. Elephant habitat is confined to about 2200 km2. There are 529-550 elephants in this region comprising approximately 1.8% of elephants in India (Anon 2014). Elephants in NWB occur in the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. NWB is considered a hotspot of human-elephant conflict, attributable to unplanned settlements, tea gardens, farmlands, defense establishments, encroachment of elephant habitat and expansion of linear infrastructure such as roads and railways. Almost 50% of the elephant habitat in NWB comprises of non-conservation areas.

Environment & Ecosystem Science

Relation between elephant and man in India is ancient; no other animal had such a close association with the human. Pre mature elephant deaths by train collision, electrocution and drowning were common nowadays and painful disturbances in elephant population due to conflict have been described more from time to time in the outlying areas of all over India and in Uttarakhand apart from poisoning, gunfire, forest fire, diseases etc. This research paper communicates in detail cases of elephant conflict death, its root cause and its preventive actions.

… on Asian Elephants 50 News Briefs …, 2009

Elephant habitat in northern West Bengal, India, is part of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot and the western-most extension of the northeastern elephant population (Roy et al. 2006). The habitat is characterized by a high degree of fragmentation and intense human-...

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2015

This study was funded by a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (ASE-0485) to study elephant habitats of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. We thank the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD) for granting us permission to carry out this study. We especially grateful to the Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, the Divisional Forest Officers of the Nilgiri North and South Divisions for permitting access to their database. The field staff of TNFD helped track documents and location of carcasses. Mr. Wilfred Lamuel and Mr. J. Duraimurugan provided field support, and Mr. Tito Joseph collated data from WPSI's wildlife crime database.

Elephant movement and its impacts. Conservation Management in Odisha, India: Case Study. ISBN 978-613-9-97302-6., 2019

ABSTRACT The present work is developed around case studies on elephants that moved into the state of Odisha from neighbouring states during the period 1997 to 2014. It is an account on trends of elephant movement across interstate border of Odisha from north-east (West Bengal), north (Jharkhand), north-west and west (Chhattisgarh), and south (Andhra Pradesh). The work describes the numbers of elephants involved, their population composition, the entry-exit points, and the pattern of landscape occupancies expressed as ‘occupancy days’ after moving into Odisha. Elephant movements have increased man-elephant interface, elephant deaths and also the cause for loss of human life and property. Although simple field data used in the work are primarily from the period 1997 to 2014, and the elephant occupancy days give an index to pressure on moved-in landscapes, it calls for risk management with preparatory attention of people and governance in identified zones and locations. Palei, N. C., L. A. K. Singh and H. K. Sahu (2019). 5. Discussion and Summary. Pages 277-324. In: Elephant movement and its impacts. Conservation Management in Odisha, India: Case Study. Lambert Academic Publishing. ISBN 978-613-9-97302-6. KEY WORDS: Elephant movement, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh. Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Human elephant interface (HEC), elephant occupancy days,

LAMBERT Academic Publishers, 2019

Forest fragmentation, loss of ecological connectivity, developments in human society have led to elephant conservation issues. Elephant conservation by Odisha state in eastern India began in 1987. Changes in migration corridors shared with states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have driven elephants for periodic stay in new areas causing unnatural deaths and social issues in villages of Odisha. There is loss of crops, houses, human life and properties. The book traces 30+ years’ elephant conservation path in Odisha, provides quantitative case studies on human-elephant interface and the impact on people during 1997 to 2014. The movement path, herd composition, entry-exit patterns and elephant occupancy days give insight to ecological demand in Odisha and threats to elephants. Reasons for changing movements discussed; workable recommendations used in elephant conservation mentioned. Authored by Dr Lala Aswini Kumar Singh known for contributions in wildlife research from 1974, Dr H K Sahu of North Orissa University and Dr N C Palei, it is an absorbing work for general readers with matters for researchers and Government in conservation of elephant and other wildlife. ISBN: 978-613-9-97302-6

ISBN 978-613-9-97302-6; ISBN 978-613-9-97302-6, 2019

Elephants of Odisha (Based on text by L A K Singh 2019); pages 55-120. In: Palei, N. C., L. A. K. Singh and H. K. Sahu (2019). Elephant Movement and its Impacts: Conservation Management in Odisha, India: Case Study; 405 pages, 104 Tables, 69 Figures, 41 Photographs. The text provides a glimpse of Odisha State and the trend of its elephant population during 1979-2015. A proper method of enumeration was developed the first time in Similipal in 1989, that was later practices in the state and the region. Also described are Odisha’s vegetation and forest types; faunal diversity; Protected Areas with fitment status to IUCN categories; distribution pattern of elephants in different forest divisions; the pattern of change in composition of male-female-young; elephant studies in Similipal forests which later became a part of Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve; the man-elephant interface; elephant conservation initiated from 1989; the elephant reserves and elephant corridors; and people’s participation. It appears that the numbers of elephants have increased due to birth and temporary immigration but has remained near-stagnation at 1800-1900 elephants. Death of elephants may be ascribed to various natural and man-made causes. Elephants have spread to more areas during recent years that has caused increase in human-elephant interface almost all over the state. Poaching of elephants appear to have decreased but death of elephants due to accidents from rail and electrocution have increased. Various legal provisions have been made and working procedures have been prescribed by the Government for stake-holding departments. Elephant Reserves do not have any separate legal status over the land, but is still a misunderstood concept among land users. Key words: Elephant in Odisha, human elephant interface, HEC, Protected Area in Odisha, Elephant Reserve, Elephant Corridor