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Wild elephant crushed to death in Bengal

       Jalpaiguri (West Bengal): A wild elephant was crushed to death when it came in the way of a moving goods train in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District. Wildlife activists claimed that such incidents keep taking place in the absence of any precaution by the railway staff. "Our complaint is that one after another such incidents keep repeating. The railway staff said that they are following orders of the expert committee but there is an immediate need to do something to put a check on it, otherwise these elephants will keep dying," said Animesh Bose, a wildlife activist. The state wildlife department has filed a case against the driver of the train. In 2006, four elephants were killed in similar accidents. Elephants are revered in India, but gradually the respect for the animals and the taboo against killing them is being worn down by conflict. The jungles of northeastern part of India are home to about 7,500 elephants. But in recent years, the animals have been coming into conflict with man more frequently and more dangerously. As they fall victim to increased poaching for ivory and their habitats disappear, many stray out of the forest to block roads and rail tracks or look for food in built-up areas.
-Nov 14,  2006

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