On The Right Track

Thick forests bank the Ganga as it flows into the plains; this is the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, northern India, home to a rich variety of wildlife.
Between 1987 and 2001, eighteen Asian elephants and other smaller animals, were killed in train-hit accidents along a railway line that cuts across Rajaji National Park. This rail line connects the holy city of Haridwar with the capital of this state, Dehradun, and is one of the busiest rail stretches in the region. Invasive as the rail track is for this ancient wilderness and all wildlife within it, it is equally a lifeline for thousands of people commuting on this stretch everyday. There is no other way the railway line can be routed. Humans cannot do without the transport connections and wild animals find it difficult to learn that the strange parallel tracks running through their habitat can suddenly bring on huge, speeding monster machines that run them over, again and again.
On the Right Track documents a project that looked at this problem closely and has found creative solutions to reduce the danger on these tracks. Undertaken by Wildlife Trust of India-IFAW, supported and meticulously implemented by the Uttarakhand Forest Department in collaboration with Northern Railways, the suggested solutions have ensured zero elephant deaths on this 14 km track since 2001. A heartening win that proves that a little bit of care can allow human technology and ancient natural living systems to coexist. The Rajaji example is now being replicated in other areas with similar problems.

[@MsDancegenie]

This is a great effort on behalf of the wildlife and all credit to the authorities involved in trying to find a solution. However, it is just another example of man encroaching on the wildlife's habitat. The animals have obviously always traveled to the south side to get to the water when it has dried up on the north side but now man has built a railway track right through their passage!!!!

[@neeteshananth]

Superb co-ordination b/w Forest & Railway Departments. keep it up

[@karan_for_you]

In Railway Museum of Delhi, a skull of an elephant was there who died laze-ring on the track may be in 80's period. So, it is a good thing to see that track inspectors and other employees work in integrity to clear off the railway lines so that the elephants can be safeguarded. Nice Video and thanks for the share.

[@neeteshananth]

Must watch video. Great train drivers & their dedication and intent to care for the mute creatures. GOOD....Great forest guards also. Am full of praise...

[@LAFD54]

Excellent work by these fine people!

[@madhujitbhattacharjee1087]

Congratulations To Team Of Forest Guards, Loco Pilots And The Authorities Involved For Saving Elephant Lives!!! Well Done Guys...

[@neeteshananth]

It is an eye opener video to all other state forest departments. Nothing to do with Kerala or its people. I have come across dedicated Kerala Forest Department staff too. Walayar I agree is a vulnerable stretch for the gentle giants & I hope someone from Kerala Govt addresses this issue quickly.

[@TheMissleading]

That is so nice they save the elephants much respect to them.

[@vikramjitlama9561]

Great job done. Keep up the great work!

[@neeteshananth]

What an amazing video... save the gentle giants at any cost.... hats off to IR and FD.,..

[@tarunrana762]

good job and love u indan railways

[@mohitsharma_007]

Good job

[@Fattehexpress]

Nice job 👌👌👍👍❤️❤️🙏🙏

[@UjjawalKashyap]

Good work!!

[@hema786ful]

they r the real life heroes, hand off

[@Jawa2lak]

Great Job. Nice video

[@bhavin2584]

really great job!!!

[@jithincherian]

nice video keep it up

[@rahulrajkanishka4790]

saluting to the patrolling team and the driver

[@kothalakshmigoud9033]

great job sir ☺☺👍👍

[@rajeshmb6745]

High time to introduce safe under passage below the track for crossing at ever 2-3 kms30ft width on the track going through dense forest . Animals will adopt to the under passage in due course. A similar flywover of more 5-10 kms istrech of Highway is made near MP and Maharashtra border, The earlier road was made normal which was supposed to run through the dense forest (Tiger and other wildlife infested). It went through lot of protest and halt the proceedings,And highway authority has to come up with some solution and then they made this 4-5 kms of flyover intermittently to give safe under passage to wildlife. And with the help of camera trap it is noticed that this under passage has met with huge success. Similar solution is required. We have occupied thier space for our convenience and we are neglecting the same., we will continue to witness such incident. Though what now railway are using is very elementary very precarious.

[@tHegreatesTtHegreatesT]

Its really great

[@anwarhassin9808]

good job

[@vellaisamykjb1615]

good job...

[@tpvalley]

simple, tag the elephants with gps sensors, every time they go near track an automatic warning could alert drivers or even head office to then alert drivers.

[@PalaniSwamiNagarajaVasudevan]

+tpvalley not possible in india

[@PalaniSwamiNagarajaVasudevan]

+Jishnu Babu it will take atleast 20-30 years for it to initiate

[@thirukumarank9242]

tpvalley r9

[@seba81376]

awesme compilation

[@anoop2327]

caring loco pilots n patrol team wont be present everywhere....just instruct all trains to move slowly (max.speed 20km/h) until the forest stretch is over..this enables efficient braking & can save lifes of innocent animals..those who exceed speed should be fired.

[@samrinsingh1502]

Bee sound is used in Rajaji park near railway line to prevent elephants from coming near the track. The speed limit is 40 kmph after haridwar towards Dehradun and Rishikesh

[@vickynitu1]

Mr.Roop Chand Taneja is my father and now retired.

[@sanjayd411]

lovely

[@BHARATH-CHANDRAN]

well done

[@radbcc]

Why would you build the track right through the park in the first place?

[@user-dm8nd5fc3d]

Its a way to get to the other side of the park for locals who need to get their directly

[@vijaybhavre7839]

jishnu babu why not possible in india...

[@Rani9047]

nice

[@elimemdov6645]

salam

[@muttappakeshapur9997]

m gsjo czk

[@mrbluenun]

Would the elephants use a wide tunnel under the track, ?

[@dheerajbadhan]

good

[@AdityaYadav-zg8nr]

❤❤

[@myglobalstick4136]

mast

[@canyonmccall3761]

4 : 43 A COOK IN A SOCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@geppegep]

....baby i was born this way!

[@nkkumar5891]

Kha ka vidio h

[@MFXdump]

:57 He's out the window hoping to catch the blood and guts on his face.

[@123japanuser]

Belated Happy Bday to Me :) Uploaded on Oct 26, 2009

[@ravikumarv7467]

Indian railway soldiers

[@jaskaunke]

nice work

[@sigmu7]

Great video for increasing awareness !! I don't quite know what the solution is from the video. Is it only human surveillance ? Do correct me if I'm wrong, and not to take away anything from the effort put in, but is the major issue drying up of the water holes on the south side of the track ?

[@PIONEERaudioLOVER]

People keep saying that we are intruding in on all the animals habitat. Well we need a "habitat" too. So something some where must be run off for us to live. I'm sure the wood your house is made out of something used to live in. Get over yourselves. It is not like we are out the mowing them down and killing them.

[@sigmu7]

continued... if so, there is a perennial source of water on the northern side, could they build a canal or a dam on the river? The size of the canal or dam can be small enough to minimize interference with the ecosystem and large enough to keep water supply in the southern side. Again, I could be wrong and they considered it an one of the options and it turned out to be not viable.

[@punith9445]

Good job