Railways moots more underpasses for wild elephants in Madukkarai forests near
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Species, protected areas & wetlands· Prelims·
Why in news
The Palakkad Division of Southern Railway is proposing more underpasses in Madukkarai forests to mitigate elephant-train collisions.
Background
The project targets the Madukkarai range between Kottekad and Ettimadai. It aims to address 28 fatalities caused by elephant-train collisions, utilizing existing underpasses and new safety measures.
Facts for Prelims
- PlaceMadukkarai range is located in the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway
- S&TElephant Intrusion Detection System (EIDS) is used for railway safety
- Fact28 fatalities were recorded due to elephant-train collisions between Kottekad and Ettimadai
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges of balancing infrastructure development with wildlife conservation in ecologically sensitive zones like the Western Ghats.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Habitat fragmentation: Linear infrastructure creating barriers to migratory corridors for megafauna
- Technological intervention: EIDS as a non-invasive mitigation tool vs. physical barriers like fencing
- Safety-conservation trade-off: Balancing railway operational efficiency with elephant mortality reduction
Keywords: Habitat fragmentation · Wildlife-human conflict · Biodiversity conservation · Linear infrastructure · Mitigation strategies
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