INDIAN RAILWAYS AND WILDLIFE: A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP,

INDIAN RAILWAYS AND WILDLIFE: A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP

Author - Tarique Ahmad, IG-cum-PCSC/Railway Protection Force/North Eastern Railway

INTRODUCTION

Wildlife is the heartbeat of our planet, ensuring ecological balance and enriching our world in countless ways. To honor its significance, the UN designated March 3rd as World Wildlife Day in 2013, marking the anniversary of CITES, signed in 1973. This annual event serves as a global call to protect endangered species and recognize wildlife?s profound impact on nature and humanity.

Despite the efforts launched for conservation & protection of wild life, threats are continuously rising. The vast network of Indian Railways which acts as backbone of national connectivity with over 67,000 km of track length, has also led to many unintended consequences for wildlife like fragmentation of habitat, smuggling, illegal trade etc. This article examines the complex relationship between Indian Railways and wildlife with focus on smuggling & illegal trade of wild life and efforts being taken by Railway Protection Force to curb this growing threat.

IMPACT OF RAILWAYS ON WILDLIFE

Impact of Train Collisions

Train collisions pose a significant threat to wildlife, especially in areas where railway tracks intersect migration routes or ecologically sensitive areas. Many animals, particularly elephants and tigers, are unable to evade oncoming trains due to dense vegetation, curved tracks, and night travel further exacerbates the problem. when crossing tracks, leading to tragic and preventable deaths. In India, multiple reports have highlighted the dangers of railway corridors intersecting with wildlife migration routes.

Habitat Fragmentation and Displacement

Railway lines often cut through forests, wetlands, and grasslands, dividing animal habitat and restricting their movement. This increases the risk of starvation, predation and human-wildlife conflict. Species like tigers, elephants, and leopards are particularly affected as their large home ranges become fragmented, leading to population isolation and genetic decline.

Noise and Light Pollution

Railway operations generate constant noise and artificial lighting, which disturb wildlife behavior. Loud train sounds and vibrations disrupt natural communication, feeding, and breeding patterns, causing stress and displacement. Nocturnal animals, such as owls and bats, are particularly affected by the bright lights of passing trains, which interfere with their hunting and navigation abilities.

Wildlife Smuggling via Indian Railways

The extensive reach of Indian Railways has inadvertently made it a key mode of transport for illegal wildlife trade. Smugglers exploit railway networks to transport endangered animals, animal skins, ivory, rare birds, and other prohibited wildlife products. Unchecked booked consignments, vast open network, insufficient surveillance etc. make railway routes vulnerable to trafficking of wild life. Wildlife smuggling not only threatens biodiversity but also fuels organized crime and disrupts ecological balance.

Methods of Smuggling-

Smugglers use various methods to transport wildlife and wildlife products via Indian Railways. These methods include:

Concealment in Luggage: Smugglers often hide animal or animal parts in luggage, using false compartments or specially designed containers to avoid detection.

Use of Parcels and Cargo: Wildlife and wildlife products are sometimes shipped as parcels or cargo, often mislabeled to avoid suspicion.

Bribery and Corruption: In some cases, smugglers bribe railway officials to turn a blind eye to their activities, allowing them to transport illegal goods without interference.

Commonly Smuggled Species

A wide range of species are smuggled via Indian Railways, including:

Exotic Birds: Parrots, mynas, and other exotic birds are often smuggled for the pet trade.

Reptiles: Snakes, lizards, and turtles are smuggled for their skins, as pets, or for use in traditional medicine.

Mammals: Tigers, leopards, and other big cats are smuggled for their skins and bones, while smaller mammals like pangolins are smuggled for their scales and meat.

Marine Life: Seahorses, starfish, and other marine species are smuggled for use in traditional medicine and as curios.

EFFORTS BY RAILWAYS FOR WILD LIFE PROTECTION

Indian Railways has implemented several measures to protect wildlife and prevent smuggling. Wildlife corridors, overpasses, and underpasses in areas like Rajaji National Park and Assam?s elephant corridors have reduced train-animal collisions. Speed restrictions in North Bengal and Odisha further help mitigate accidents. Early warning systems, such as thermal cameras in Bandipur National Park, alert loco pilots & station masters about animal movement. Habitat restoration initiatives, including afforestation along railway tracks and wetland conservation near railway bridges, are being implemented to mitigate environmental impact.

MEASURES TAKEN BY RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE FOR WILD LIFE PROTECTION

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) plays a pivotal role in curbing wildlife smuggling through India's vast railway network.

Operation WILEP (Wildlife Protection Initiative) ? This nationwide operation has been launched by RPF to prevent wildlife smuggling, conducting surprise inspections, and strengthening enforcement at railway stations, parcel offices, and in train routes. Table 1 & 2 shows the recovery of wildlife (Flora & Fauna) from Railway stations & Trains under operation WILEP by Railway Protection Force.

Surveillance and Technology Deployment ? RPF is also using CTV surveillance, X ray baggage scanners to detect suspicious activities. Sniffer dogs have also been trained & deployed at stations & in trains to detect smuggling of wildlife products.

Inter-Agency Coordination ? RPF has also collaborated with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), forest departments, local police and other law enforcement agencies to conduct frequent raids & track down smugglers to take legal action against them. Joint operations have led to seizure of protected species such as turtles, star tortoises, exotic birds, ivory, and pangolin scales etc. and the arrest of smugglers.

Awareness and Training Programs ? To strengthen frontline defense, RPF organizes training sessions and awareness programs for railway staff, educating them on protection of wild life, wildlife laws, smuggling methods, and identification of trafficked species etc.

CASE STUDIES OF WILDLIFE SMUGGLING VIA INDIAN RAILWAYS

To better understand the role of Railway Protection Force in wildlife smuggling, it is useful to examine specific case studies. These case studies highlight the various methods used by smugglers and the challenges faced in combating this illicit trade.

Case Study 1: On 05.01.2024, during surveillance and patrolling by RPF staff at Lucknow Junction of North East Railway, 40 rare species of live Indian tortoises were found in 02 bags lying unclaimed on the platform. The tortoises were safely recovered & handed over to Forest Department for further action. The estimated price of these recovered live tortoises is about Rs. 4 Lakhs in international market.

Case Study 3: On 30.01.2024, during checking of the arrived train no. 15716 by RPF Inspector-in-charge of RPF Chhapra Post along with staff found 70 live turtles kept in coach S-5 in 3 unclaimed bags. After successful recovery it was handed over to the Forest department after completing legal formalities. A case was registered in the Wildlife Protection Department under Sections- 9, 39, 40, 48A, 49B against unknown dated 30.01.24 Wildlife Protection Act 1972 under FIR No. 01/2024. The estimated price of these recovered live tortoises is about Rs. 5 Lakhs in international market.

CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS

The vast and complex network of Indian Railways makes it difficult to monitor every passenger, parcel and booked consignments shipment, allowing smugglers to exploit the system. Wildlife traffickers often use sophisticated concealment tactics & techniques, such as hidden compartments in luggage and mislabeled parcels, making detection more challenging. Additionally, many railway stations lack X-ray baggage scanners, parcels scanners and sniffer dogs etc. and have multiple entry and exits limiting the detection and enforcement capabilities.

Further, Inter-agency coordination & lack of training of railway personnel in wildlife identification and smuggling patterns also makes it challenging to detect illegal activities. Legal challenges also hinder efforts, as weak penalties and lengthy legal proceedings fail to deter traffickers effectively. Moreover, evolving smuggling tactics like encrypted communications, organized networks also make it harder to track and dismantle operations.

WAY FORWARD

To strengthen the Railway Protection Force?s (RPF) efforts against wildlife smuggling, increased use of x ray scanners, specialized training, and advanced surveillance technologies like AI-driven monitoring needs to be adopted. Collaboration with Forest department, local police, Government Railway Police (GRP) and other enforcement agencies can also enhance intelligence sharing and coordinated action. Regular assessments of anti-smuggling measures, backed by data analysis, will help refine strategies and ensure more effective wildlife protection within Indian Railways. Finally, it is important to continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of measures to combat wildlife smuggling. This will require the collection of data on wildlife smuggling activities, as well as the impact of enforcement measures. This data can be used to refine and improve measures, ensuring that they are as effective as possible.

Further, construction and operation of railways also needs to be more sensitive to ecological consideration as it has significant impacts on wildlife, including habitat fragmentation, wildlife mortality, and the disruption of ecosystems etc. By taking these steps, it is possible to balance the need for economic development with the need to protect India's rich biodiversity.