Tracks of Death: Elephant Casualties along the Habaipur–Diphu Railway in Assam, India. Issue 6 (18th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ahmed, Rekib; Saikia, Anup; Robeson, Scott M.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the American Association of Geographers. Volume 112:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1553
• Page End: 1575
• Publication Date: 2022-08-18
• Subjects: elephant–train collisions -- forest fragmentation -- land cover change; 大象与火车碰撞 -- 森林破碎 -- 土地覆盖变化。; cambios en la cobertura del suelo -- colisiones elefantes-trenes -- fragmentación forestal; Geography -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Geography; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2021.1990009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2469-4452

Abstract

Abstract : Railway development is an important component of sustainable transportation systems but also affects wildlife habitats worldwide. Here, we assess spatiotemporal patterns of elephant–train collisions and mortalities within the state of Assam, India, and relate them to spatial and temporal land cover change (LCC) from 1988 to 2018. The results indicate that an extension of railways into forested landscapes is associated with large-scale LCC and increased elephant–train collisions and mortality. Prior to 1997, when the railway system used narrower gauge rails, elephant deaths from collisions occurred at a rate of one or two per year. After 1997, when the system was converted to larger gauge rails, elephant deaths increased starkly and now occur at a rate approaching ten per year. While the rail gauges were being converted, the landscape around the Habaipur–Diphu railway line saw a sevenfold increase in annual net loss of dense forest. The transition from forest to croplands was the most dominant process of deforestation and forest fragmentation during the postconversion period. Although elephant–train collisions are strongly associated with the land use transitions shown here, conservation and remediation measures can help to stem further declines in forest habitats and promote safe movement by elephants between resource patches.