A wild elephant, injured after being hit by a train on Sunday at Lohagora in Chattogram, died on Tuesday while receiving treatment at Dulahazra Safari Park in Cox鈥檚 Bazar.
Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University professor Bibek Chandra Sutradhar, involved in the animal鈥檚 treatment, confirmed that the elephant鈥檚 right hind leg and backbone were broken in the accident, leading to its death.
The elephant, an Asian species found in only 13 countries, was struck by a passenger train traveling from Cox鈥檚 Bazar to Chattogram. The incident occurred near the Elephant Overpass in the Chunati wildlife sanctuary.
Mahmud Hossain, range officer of Chunati wildlife sanctuary, reported that a group of 5-6 elephants was roaming the area when the 8 to 10-year-old female cub was hit from behind by the speeding train while crossing the tracks, leaving it critically injured.
鈥極ur team responded immediately after learning of the injured elephant. Weighing around two tonnes, the elephant was receiving full medical care,鈥� he said.
Following orders from the environment adviser, the elephant was transferred to Dulahazra Safari Park for better treatment.
In May 2023, another elephant died after being hit by the Chittagong-bound Chattla Express near the Kotbari rail gate at Uttara in Dhaka.
The killing of Asian elephants has been increasing in Bangladesh, posing a serious threat to the survival of the largest land mammal in Asia.