This story is from March 4, 2021

Two sloth bears run over by train, mother jumps to safety

Two sloth bears run over by train, mother jumps to safety
The sloth bears were run over by Mumbai-bound Gitanjali Express near Gangajhari railway station, 20km from Gondia
Nagpur: Two sub-adult male sloth bears were run over by Mumbai-bound Gitanjali Express near Gangajhari railway station, 20km from Gondia, while the mother ran towards safety on Wednesday morning on the occasion of World Wildlife Day.
The train, which was coming from Howrah, was heading towards Nagpur when the incident took place.
Both sloth bears said to be around 2.5 years were thrown apart due to the speeding train.
Gondia forest officials told TOI, “The spot where the bears were knocked dead is an identified corridor between Navegaon-Nagzira-Kanha-Pench tiger reserves. Earlier, within 2km radius deaths of leopards were also reported due to train hit.”
“The South East Central Railway (SECR) is laying the third line, and this expansion plan may cause more animals deaths as it will be tough for them cross three railway tracks simultaneously. The SECR should impose speed restrictions in and around the railway tracks,” the officials said.
On one side of the track is a forest with hillocks and on the other, there are agriculture fields along forest areas connecting Pench and Balaghat towards Kanha.
Similar deaths including tigers have also been reported under the jurisdiction of the SECR section between Gondia-Chanda Fort but no steps have been taken by the railways for the safety of animals. The issue has also been raised in the state wildlife board meetings and a sub-committee under PCCF (wildlife) has already been set up to do the needful.
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