Pune: Radar sensors installed on trains can detect elephants crossing or standing on railways tracks while an auto-brake function can avoid hitting them. Both steps would bring down the mortality rate of the elephants, Animal Equity, a UK-based animal rights' organization, and its representatives in Pune, have said.
On an average, trains hit five elephants every year and injure scores of other animals. Last September, seven elephants were mowed down in a single incident at Banerhat on the New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar junction stretch. This year, so far, four elephants have been run over by trains.
Scintillating light headlamps with halogen or light-emitting diode bulbs, water cannons to drive away animals blocking tracks and high-powered binoculars for train drivers were other suggestions made to the environment minister and railways minister for implementation.
Amruta Ubale, representative of Animal Equality in Pune, told TOI that the current preventive measures have had success, but have failed to prevent the deaths of elephants.“Radar sensors installed on trains can detect animals both moving and immobile in front of the train and on the tracks. They will also determine the distance from the animal and an auto-brake function can avoid hits,” she said.
Laurita Gough, spokesperson for Animal Equality, has written to minister of railways Dinesh Trivedi about the radar sensor technology known as collision warning systems used by many car companies internationally. “If an emergency arises, a warning is sounded and light flashes on the heads up display. Full brakes are applied immediately if the driver does not respond in time. Experts say that this technology works best when the vehicle is driven under 25 km per hour. In situations where the speed is more than 25 km per hour it helps in reducing the collision speed.''
Ubale said that at present the state forest department and animal welfare organisations have intervened in some states and implemented measures. These include patrolling, electric fencing, installation of signages and hoardings, levelling of steep embankments, sensitising train drivers and other railway staff and clearing vegetation around blind corners to improve visibility for train drivers. “These seem to have been successful to some extent, but have not prevented the deaths of elephants due to train hits,” she added.
In the past
According to the elephant task force report, 150 elephants have been killed in train collisions since 1987. Assam has topped elephant casualties due to train hits accounting for 36 %. West Bengal with 26 % and Uttarakhand with 14 %, follow Assam.
Animal Equality’s suggestions - Installation of automatic speed governing
devices which can be activated once the
train enters tracks in the forests.
- Installation of water cannon for animals
found blocking the track
found blocking the track
- High-power binoculars provided to
drivers to improve visibility
drivers to improve visibility
Recent hit A sub-adult female elephant was killed after being hit by the speeding Ranchi-bound Guwahati-Ranchi Express on the railway track between New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar junction railway stations on November 5. Other elephants of the herd blocked the track for more than an hour. The incident occurred on the outskirts of Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary. The herd was crossing the track. The train hit the animal and dragged it nearly 250 m before the cow catcher of the engine tossed it off the track. Last September, seven elephants were killed by a goods train in a single incident at Banerhat. This year four elephants have been mowed down.
No Govt response yet to Animal Right body's suggestions
Concerned over the elephant deaths due to collisions with trains in Assam, and in ability of the authorities to implement effective measures, Animal Equality, an animal rights organization based in a the UK has written a letter to the Minister of Environment and Forests and Minister of Railways urging them to consider the suggestions sent by their Indian representatives. But so far there has been no response from either of the Ministry.
Elephant causalities due to train hits have become frequent in recent years. According to the Elephant Task force report, Assam is on the top of jumbo casualties due to train-hits since 1987. The state forest department and animal welfare organizations have jointly intervened in some states and implemented measures such as patrolling, electric fencing, installation of signages and hoardings, leveling of steep embankments, created an awareness among train drivers and other railway staff, cleared vegetation at blind corners to improve visibility for train drivers, etc. These seem to have been successful to some extent, but have not proved to prevent the deaths due to train hits.
“It will prove effective to install radar sensors in the train which will detect animals (moving or immobile) in front of the train and on tracks. This will help in determining the distance from the animal. This unit in addition can have an auto-brake function which is utilized to avoid hits.” said Amruta Ubale, representative of Animal Equality told The Assam Tribune.
The sensor technology has been used by many car companies internationally. These are commonly known as collision warning systems. The collision warning system works by combining data obtained from a dual-mode radar unit in the grille and a video camera mounted by the rear-view mirror. While the radar spots approaching objects at a distance, the camera hones in and identifies those potential hazards. If an emergency arises, a warning is sounded and light flashes on the heads up display. Full brakes are applied immediately if the driver does not respond in time. Experts say that this technology works best when the vehicle is driven under 25 kmph. In situations where the speed is more than 25 kmph it helps in reducing the collision speed.
Animal Equality has called for installation of automatic speed governing devices which can be activated once the train enters forest track. These speed control devices can be set at a maximum speed of 20-25 kmph on even tracks and 40-45 kmph on steep tracks.
Moreover, a demand has been made for the use of powerful head lamps in addition to existing head lamps. The bulbs used in both lamps should be halogen/LED. This will also help in illuminating maximum length of rail tracks.
Animal Equality reminded the Ministers that the suggestions were first sent by Amruta Ubale in 2010. They were then forwarded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Railways requesting to examine and explore the possibility of implementing suggestions.
UK group offers tips to prevent jumbo deaths
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111129/jsp/northeast/story_14810155.jsp#
UK group offers tips to prevent jumbo deaths
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111129/jsp/northeast/story_14810155.jsp#
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