The Hindu : New Delhi News : For saving “Bholu” the elephant

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For saving “Bholu” the elephant

— Photo: V. Sudershan

Members of PETA recreate a scene outside Rail Bhawan in New Delhi to highlight how elephants are killed in rail accidents.

Expressing concern over elephants being killed in train accidents across the country, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Thursday used a dummy elephant to recreate a fatal train accident in front of Rail Bhavan in the Capital to draw attention of the authorities towards the problem.

According to Sachin Bangera of PETA, on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Indian Railways, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee was presented the new railways mascot “Bholu,” the elephant. “Ironically Indian Railways has been the reason for the death of many of Bholu’s real life friends in the wild. In February, PETA wrote to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad urging him to take actions to save wild elephants who are threatened by railway lines. In response, the Ministry told PETA that it had formed a committee to look into the matter. Sadly, nothing has changed for these animals.” Stating that PETA was generating awareness among people that hundreds of elephants were being killed every year in accidents with trains, Sachin said it was posing a serious danger to the country’s wildlife. “Elephant herds migrate long distances in search of food. This allows the vegetation to regenerate after the herd passes through an area. The matriarch leading the herd follows traditional migration routes that have been in use for centuries. The presence of railways in protected areas around forests has caused the deaths of wild elephants through accidents. No suitable steps have been taken to protect these elephants from harm,” he lamented.

Staff Reporter

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