Rajaji National Park Uttarakhand comprising of beauty sal and sagon (teak) trees was always known for a huge population of elephants.
However, a railway track bisecting the 18-kms stretch of the park had become a graveyard of elephants. Two to three elephants used to die every year under the wheels of trains passing through their habitat.
Located in the foothills of Himalayas, the area has dense fog during winters and visibility comes down to barely few meters. All precautions taken by loco pilots had failed to check fatal mishaps involving the pachyderm.
Since the track connected Uttarakhand capital Dehradun with rest of the country, it could not be removed. There was no way to bypass the elephant territory.
Yet, forest department and railways have jointly taken some steps which have resulted in death of only three elephants on these tracks during past ten years.
They are using technology to ensure there not a single animal including elephants dies on the track henceforth. In this video interview with Indian Masterminds, Field Director of Rajaji Park Dr Badola reveals the steps being understand to bring animal fatalities down to a big zero.
Please click to see the video….
