Six wild elephants killed in collision with trains (Sri Lanka)

S
stenews
Thu, Sep 28, 2023 6:52 PM

Six wild elephants killed in collision with trains (Sri Lanka)
ColomboPage
September 28, 2023

See link http://www.colombopage.com/archive_23B/Sep28_1695912427CH.php
for photo.

The Department of Wildlife reported that six (06) wild elephants have died
in two separate accidents when two herds of elephants collided with trains
in the areas of Galgamuwa and Palu Gaswewa yesterday (28th) night.

Four elephants were killed when the night mail train running from Colombo
Fort to Kankasanthurai collided with a herd of wild elephants in the teak
forest area near Galgamuwa city.

Two other elephants died when a herd of wild elephants collided with the
Meenagaya train running from Colombo Fort to Polonnaruwa in the area
between Kekirawa and Palugaswewa.

Of the four wild elephants that died in the accident in Galgamuwa area,
three were under 10 years of age and one animal was between 12 and 13 years
of age, according to Isuru Hewa Kottegoda, a veterinarian at Nikaweratiya
Wildlife Office.

After the accident, the train was stopped for over an hour at the spot as
one elephant got stuck between the engine and a compartment. Later, the
train passengers and the Galgamuwa police removed the animal and the train
resumed its journey.

The Ritigala Wildlife Office states that both the elephants died in the
train accident in Palu Gaswewa area were between 15 and 20 years old.

The Galgamuwa Police and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Office are jointly
conducting the investigation on the Galgamuwa accident, while the Ritigala
Wildlife Office and the Habarana Police are conducting the investigation on
the Palu Gaswewa train accident.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_23B/Sep28_1695912427CH.php

https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=93710

Six wild elephants killed in collision with trains (Sri Lanka) ColomboPage September 28, 2023 See link <http://www.colombopage.com/archive_23B/Sep28_1695912427CH.php> for photo. The Department of Wildlife reported that six (06) wild elephants have died in two separate accidents when two herds of elephants collided with trains in the areas of Galgamuwa and Palu Gaswewa yesterday (28th) night. Four elephants were killed when the night mail train running from Colombo Fort to Kankasanthurai collided with a herd of wild elephants in the teak forest area near Galgamuwa city. Two other elephants died when a herd of wild elephants collided with the Meenagaya train running from Colombo Fort to Polonnaruwa in the area between Kekirawa and Palugaswewa. Of the four wild elephants that died in the accident in Galgamuwa area, three were under 10 years of age and one animal was between 12 and 13 years of age, according to Isuru Hewa Kottegoda, a veterinarian at Nikaweratiya Wildlife Office. After the accident, the train was stopped for over an hour at the spot as one elephant got stuck between the engine and a compartment. Later, the train passengers and the Galgamuwa police removed the animal and the train resumed its journey. The Ritigala Wildlife Office states that both the elephants died in the train accident in Palu Gaswewa area were between 15 and 20 years old. The Galgamuwa Police and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Office are jointly conducting the investigation on the Galgamuwa accident, while the Ritigala Wildlife Office and the Habarana Police are conducting the investigation on the Palu Gaswewa train accident. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_23B/Sep28_1695912427CH.php https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=93710