An express train in Sri Lanka has killed a baby elephant while crossing the tracks at Habarana, despite new safety measures being implemented. It was the same train involved in a February accident that killed seven other elephants. Following the incident, speed limits were imposed for trains in elephant habitats.
Railway authorities are investigating as they repair the tracks to restore the Colombo-Batticaloa train service. The bushes along the tracks have also been cleared to make it easier for train drivers to see the elephants crossing. In the past 17 years, 139 elephants have been killed by trains.
Human-elephant conflict is a major problem in Sri Lanka. Over the past decade, more than a thousand people and nearly three thousand elephants have died due to conflict. There are strict laws against harming elephants because they are considered a national treasure and important to the country's culture. But incidents continue due to farmers' cultivation and care, which are often affected by elephants.
