by Ifham Nizam

Six elephants including three calves died when they were hit by a speeding train in Gal Oya on Wednesday night. Acting Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe emphasised the need to adopt measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

“This is a huge loss to our wildlife. Six elephants were killed in a single accident, which highlights the growing threat posed by railway tracks running through elephant habitats. Our teams are on the ground assessing the situation and working on measures to prevent further incidents.”

According to preliminary reports, a herd of seven elephants was crossing the railway track when a passenger train struck them. Despite warnings and past incidents in similar areas, elephant-train collisions remain a pressing issue in Sri Lanka, where wildlife corridors intersect with railway lines.

Local authorities, along with wildlife officers, responded immediately to the scene.

Marasinghe stressed the need for increased collaboration between the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Sri Lanka Railway Department. “We must find long-term solutions, including warning systems, speed restrictions in high-risk areas, and improved elephant crossings to prevent such heartbreaking incidents,” he said.

Wildlife conservationists and environmental activists have long called for advanced technologies such as thermal cameras, sensor-based alert systems, and designated wildlife corridors to protect elephants from railway accidents.

In light of the tragedy, the Wildlife Department is urging residents, train operators, and authorities to work together in reporting elephant movements and ensuring safety precautions are followed.

“We are committed to protecting Sri Lanka’s wildlife, but we need the cooperation of all stakeholders. This incident should serve as a wake-up call for immediate and effective action,” Marasinghe added.

Sri Lanka, home to one of the largest populations of Asian elephants, has been facing increasing human-elephant conflicts due to habitat loss and infrastructural expansion. Conservationists stress that unless urgent steps are taken, similar incidents will continue to occur.