A train hit a herd of elephants in Sri Lanka on Wednesday night, killing at least six elephants, according to Sri Lanka Police. The collision occurred around 11:30 PM between Minneriya and Galoya railway stations.
The train traveled late in the evening, in the dark, through Minneriya National Park. This park is particularly famous for its elephants. Hundreds of these animals live here in the wild, attracting tens of thousands of tourists each year.
The Sri Lankan authorities are investigating why the train driver did not notice the elephants on the tracks.
Similar train accidents have happened before. In October 2024, at least two elephants were killed when a train carrying fuel struck a herd in Minneriya.
Sri Lankan elephants, the largest and darkest of the Asian elephant species, are an important part of the country’s culture and tourism.
However, habitat loss due to agriculture and infrastructure development has increased conflicts between elephants and humans.
The elephant population in the country has been declining for decades. In the 19th century, Sri Lanka was home to around 14,000 elephants. During the last major census in 2011, researchers counted only 6,000.
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