There have been fewer elephant deaths in train accidents this year compared to previous years, the Lok Sabha was today informed.
In a written reply, Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said in 2013-14, only three elephants succumbed to death due to train accidents.
Figures show that in 2012-13, 16 elephants fell victim to train accidents. In 2011-12, 13 elephants were killed in train accidents while as many were victims of poaching while one succumbed to poisoning that year.
The casualty figures were quite high in 2010-11 as 26 elephants fell prey to poaching while 19 died as a result of train accidents.
Natarajan said the estimates of elephant population in the country over a period of time does not indicate a declining trend.
As per figures, while elephant population stood at 25,842 in 1997, the numbers rose to 29,391-30,711 in 2012.
A committee for strengthening of elephant reserves and elephant corridors was constituted in January while joint advisories have been issued by MoEF and Ministry of Railways to all states concerned to avoid elephant deaths by speeding trains, she said.
