COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A passenger train hit an elephant herd near a wildlife sanctuary in Sri Lanka, killing six of the animals, an official said on Thursday.
Four babies and two adults died near Minneriya, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital, Colombo. The area is renowned for its nature park and wildlife, said Hasini Sarathchandra, a spokesman for the government’s wildlife department.
Local television channels showed the train engine and several compartments had derailed following the collision. No passenger was injured, said a railway official, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Sarathchandra said the wildlife department was investigating.
Minneriya National Park draws thousands of tourists each year hoping to see elephants in their wild habitats. It is part of the “elephant corridor” that connects Kaudulla and Wasgamuwa National parks.
Train collisions involving elephants have increased in recent years in Sri Lanka, with elephants attempting to cross over railway tracks in search of food and water. They are increasingly vulnerable because of the loss and degradation of their natural habitat and many venture closer to human settlements in search of food. Some are killed by poachers or farmers angry over damage to their crops.
(AP)
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