Adult female bear killed by train on Nagbhid-Chandrapur rail line
A six to eight year old female bear died after being hit by an unidentified train on the Gondia-Ballarshah rail line near Taloda in Brahmapuri forest division.
An adult female bear died after being hit by an unidentified train on the Gondia-Ballarshah rail line. The incident came to light on Saturday morning in compartment number 94 under Alewahi beat in the Taloda forest range. The dead bear is said to have been around six to eight years old.
Labourers working along the rail line spotted the bear lying dead in the morning and immediately informed the forest department. Forest department officers and staff reached the spot on being informed.
Under the guidance of Brahmapuri forest division deputy conservator of forests Dr Kumaraswamy, and the direction of assistant deputy conservator of forests Dr Mahesh Gaikwad, Taloda forest range officer Tejas Balasaheb Suryavanshi and biologist Rakesh Ahuja, area assistant Arvind Mane and forest guard Mrs Bangar carried out the spot inspection. Wildlife expert and SWAB organisation president Yash Kayarkar and rescue team head Jivesh Sayam were also present.
The bear's body was then brought to the forest depot at Savargaon for a post mortem. Nagbhid assistant commissioner of animal husbandry Dr Satish Tambe, Taloda veterinary officer Dr Isha Akre and TTC Chandrapur veterinary officer Dr Kundan Pochalwar conducted the post mortem.
The post mortem found several of the bear's ribs broken, along with serious internal injuries. These injuries confirmed that the bear died from a heavy impact with the train. After the post mortem, the bear was cremated as per rules at the Savargaon forest depot premises.
The Gondia-Ballarshah rail line passes through the forest areas of Nagzira, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Brahmapuri forest division, which has kept the issue of wildlife safety on this stretch a persistent concern.
According to local wildlife experts, sambar, spotted deer, nilgai, gaur, bears, tigers and leopards have died in train collisions on this rail line in the past as well.
Wildlife enthusiasts have repeatedly demanded effective safety measures to keep wildlife off the rail line and prevent accidents in areas where animals cross, but concrete steps for a permanent solution are still needed.
SWAB organisation president Yash Kayarkar said, "Effective measures should be taken immediately to prevent wildlife deaths on the rail line passing through forest areas. Safety fencing should be installed in sensitive stretches of the rail line. Special monitoring and necessary technical measures should also be put in place in areas with heavy wildlife movement."
He warned that if this spate of wildlife deaths continues and concrete safety steps are not taken, the SWAB organisation will launch an agitation.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for effective and permanent measures to protect wildlife on rail lines passing through forests.
