Our Development Their Death: Elephant Was So Terribly Hit By Train It Succumbed To Injuries
Human development has taken place by invasion and eradication of wildlife. Railway tracks run through forests and yes it can be argued that, it is important for the industrial development. But one cannot ignore the fatal effects it has had on the wildlife dwelling in the forest.
For animals like the elephants the railway tracks need to be crossed to get from one part of the forest to another. That is what one elephant was trying to do when it nearly got run over by a train, and the devastating video of the injured beast is going viral now.
This happened in West Bengal yesterday. IFS Parveen Kaswan tweeted the heartbreaking video where an elephant can be seen, wounded beyond help, most of the flesh from its legs torn off, struggling to get on its feet.
I know you will find it painful & schocking. But such things are happening & require our attention. FD team reached location on time, provided medical help also. We don't know much about internal injury. A team stayed near him in night. Video to ponder. pic.twitter.com/DNZUzNfjN2
¡ª Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) September 28, 2019
The video immediately went viral with celebrities like Randeep Hooda and Sonu Sood tweeting about it too, and talking about the need for attention to such incidents.
If you're shocked by this video, you need to know that this happens almost every other day somewhere in India. This is what endless growth based development looks like. We can't keep building infrastructure everywhere. Humans are earth's greatest pathogen, worst invasive species. pic.twitter.com/HxR7L7v40H
¡ª Aditya Panda (@AdityaPanda) September 28, 2019
So sad. We need to take steps to save these poor innocent animals ? Hope he recovers soon from this injury? https://t.co/61xxxiRBp8
¡ª sonu sood (@SonuSood) September 28, 2019
And he¡¯s passed away .. probably a good thing as he was really suffering and beyond a point of cure .. hope this can lead to some serious thought and scrutiny for further prevention of such accidents ..RIP ?? @PiyushGoyal @PiyushGoyalOffc @RailMinIndia @RailNf @moefcc @PMOIndia https://t.co/InHfqx5Ovw
¡ª Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) September 28, 2019
IFS Parveen Kaswan kept Twitter updated regarding the condition of the poor mammal, who was reportedly helped by the forest officials.
Tragic. I was with DFO Gorumara yesterday. All I can say is the FD team reached location on time, area was cordoned, provided medical help to him. 4 khunkis were also moved for support. We don't know about internal injury. A team stayed near him in night also. Hope for best. https://t.co/U3OIbRaaKp
¡ª Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) September 28, 2019
However, the depth of the injuries of the elephant were such that it succumbed today and is no more.
Even after the best efforts it is no more. ??
¡ª Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) September 28, 2019
It really is unfair that the brunt of human development has to be born by other creatures of the nature, who did not even ask for it, or agree to it. According to IFS Kaswan¡¯s tweet, these incidents occur regularly on railway tracks. In a time when we are trying to save endangered species, no one seems to be focused on the forest life that is being lost in railway accidents. Authorities need to come up with ways to safeguard the wildlife, theirs is no less valuable than ours.
