MITIGATING ELEPHANT MORTALITY FROM TRAIN COLLISIONS IN SRI LANKA: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS

Abstract

Elephant motility due to train collisions is a major conservation issue in Sri Lanka, threatening the survival of the Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and disrupt the equilibrium of the ecosystem. The purpose of this lines. Some of the main causes are high train speed, the division of habitat, the absence of efficient underpass and overpass for train and wildlife respectively. Temporal analysis shows more collisions during the night and early morning when elephants are active by moving around. These collisions also have severe consequences on elephants; they alter their social relations and reduce their ability to reproduce, which is detrimental to the species’ survival in the long run. The measures suggested to prevent elephant-train collision are as follows: Speed limits in affected areas, construction of safe crossing points, increased awareness and involvement of the local communities. Also, future research in the behavioral and spatial dynamics of elephants is essential for enhancing the efficacy of the measures being proposed. It is important to conserve the Asian elephant to maintain rich ecosystems in Sri Lanka. The findings of this study should be used to support the conservation of wildlife and their habitats while also facilitating the needs of the people.