First wildlife tunnel may save at least 200 elephants

• Project contributes to preventing railway accidents, protecting railway property, and ensuring the safety of railway passengers 

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

The construction of the country’s first wildlife tunnel in Alimankada will play a crucial role in protecting the lives of around 200 wild elephants from train accidents, the Transport and Highways Ministry said.  

 They said the construction of the new tunnel will begin on March 1 in the Kasikota area of Galgamuwa, Gatadivula.   “Various government and non-government organizations have proposed and implemented various solutions, but as a country, we are still trying to prevent elephant-train clashes,” the Ministry said.   “During the last few years, between 150 and 200 wild elephants have been killed due to train collisions while roaming around the railway lines.    “It was proposed to develop an old culvert near the place as a wildlife tunnel, but due to some technical problems, it was proposed to construct a new wildlife tunnel at ‘Alimankada’.   However, as the first step in the national operation to prevent elephant-train conflicts, a policy decision was taken to construct the proposed wildlife tunnel under the Maho-Omanthai Railway Development Project, which is being implemented with the financial assistance of the Indian Credit Line.   

This project contributes to preventing railway accidents, protecting railway property, and ensuring the safety of railway passengers.