A dramatic image captures the moment an elephant barely escapes being hit by a train as it crosses railway tracks in an Indian forest.
The photograph, taken by wildlife photographer Rupak Dastidar, highlights the dangerous reality elephants face due to a train line cutting through their habitat.
The construction of this railway line has led to frequent tragedies, with dozens of elephants losing their lives each year in train collisions.
To reduce these fatalities, authorities introduced speed limits for trains traveling through the forested areas.
Rupak, 29, explained the gravity of the situation: “The train tracks have become a graveyard for wild elephants, with over 90 killed since the tracks were modified. The route passes through national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and protected forests, home to many wild animals like the Indian Elephant and Indian Gaur.”
The areas most affected by these incidents include the railway lines between Alipurduar and New Jalpaiguri, where accidents have become common. In response, forest officials and railway authorities implemented measures to slow trains to 50 km/h during the day and 25 km/h at night.
While these changes have reduced the number of deaths and injuries, collisions continue to claim the lives of elephants.
“This photograph shows the constant danger these animals face in their natural environment,” Rupak added.
Toward the end of last year, two elephants were struck and killed by a passenger train in eastern India. Their bodies were adorned with flowers and cremated on-site as a mark of respect.
Over the past five years, at least 26 elephants have died, and many more have been injured by trains near the Nepal border, according to wildlife officials.
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