Dual mobility networks: assessing the effectiveness of the strategies to mitigate elephant- train collisions in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Elephant-Train collisions constitute a major conservation threat in Sri Lanka, where railway infrastructure traverses traditional migratory routes of the elephants. This study assesses the effectiveness of current mitigation strategies using a mixed-methods approach, which includes field observations, interviews with railway officers, wildlife officers, police officers, and village people, and statistical analysis of historical collision records from the Department of Wildlife Conservation and Sri Lanka Railway Department. Two significant hotspots are selected for the study: Galgamuwa on the Northern line and Hinguraggoda on the Eastern corridor (Habarana- Galoya- Minneriya). The study found evidence of elephant injuries and deaths in both areas linked to seasonal resource availability and traditional movement routes. According to the site observations, the existing mitigation strategies can be categorized into two main groups: elephant-focused strategies, such as electric fencing, bio-fencing, and underpass tunnels; and train driver–focused strategies, such as clearing vegetation along the railway line and installing signboards to improve visibility. According to the data analysis, the clearing of vegetation has contributed to a reduction in elephant-related train accidents. The discussion emphasizes that elephant-train collisions are not random incidents but rather are the result of spatial disconnection, behavioral adjustment, and infrastructure management that have developed over time.