In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
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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