Train journey between Madukarai in Tamil Nadu and Kanjikode in Kerala was a nightmare for passengers as well as the loco pilots till 2010. As the close proximity of this 26-km stretch to the Western Ghats, man-animal conflicts were quite routine causing death of animals, particularly elephants and delay in trips. The period from 1980 to 2009 saw 13 elephants (including calves) getting mowed down by speeding trains on this stretch.
Not anymore. Anand Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkadu, is happy because a combination of human intelligence, ingenious innovation and synergy between Railway and Forest staff has brought down the number of fatalities to absolute zero in the last two years. Most of the accidents happened when pachyderms crossed rail tracks, which had thick growth of bushes and shrubs on both sides of the tracks. This resulted in poor visibility for the loco pilots who could see the elephants only when they were close to the trains.
“Since the train route was through the periphery of the forests, we had limitations in installing cameras and other high-tech equipment for monitoring the movement of elephants,” said a senior Railway officials. A series of meetings followed. Officials of the forest department of Kerala were drafted into the conclaves. “Our objective was to bring down the mortality rate to zero without denying the animals their right to live in the region,” Pramod Krishnan, chief conservator of forests, Kerala, told The Pioneer.
A close study of the behaviour of elephants threw some interesting findings. “The elephants cross the rail tracks in search of watering holes during the summer. This happens particularly when ponds and watering holes on the their side of dwellings dry up. We dug up many additional ponds in their territory so that the animals need not trespass into the tracks,” said Krishnan.
Mohan A Menon, additional divisional railway manager, said the safety of trains were also at stake as there were chances of the trains getting derailed after hitting the elephants. “ Points from where the elephants routinely enter the tracks were identified and we installed solar fences. These fences, when touched by the elephants send out electric pulses of 12v which drive them back to the dense forests,” explained Menon.
Both Menon and Krishnan were unanimous in their findings that man is to be blamed for the man-animal conflicts. “Each time we make an encroachment into the animal territory, they get frightened as well as threatened. Industries and human settlements have made the animals feel insecure. They also get attracted by the smell of new crops like fruits, vegetables and spices which force them to trespass into the tracks,” said the railway official.
The speed of trains were brought down from 70 km to 45 km in the stretch frequented by elephants. “We also launched joint patrolling featuring rail and forest department officials. The fencing along the tracks was coated with chilly powder which literally scared the pachyderms,” said Krishnan.
Buoyed by the success of their ingenious innovations, the Palakkadu Division officials are trying another simple but effective technology. An attempt is being made to see the efficacy of honey bees over the biggest animals in the land. “We are experimenting with the bees and the initial findings are encouraging. Elephants could be kept at bay by the bees. Canadian Railway System has been trying with bees to keep wild animals off the tracks,” said Menon.