Human carelessness caused the death of 7 elephants, including two baby elephants:
A speeding goods train crushed seven elephants to death in eastern India after the animals tried to rescue two calves that got stuck in the tracks, conservation officials said on Thursday.
The baby elephants became trapped as a herd was crossing the line in a densely forested area in the northern district of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal state late Wednesday night.
"Five elephants died immediately on the track while two others succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning," said Atanu Raha, West Bengal's chief forest conservator.
The adults had crowded around the stricken calves to protect them when they were hit, he added. The two calves were among the dead.
Traffic was suspended overnight and the surviving members of the herd were still at the scene in the morning, watching over the dead and injured, he said.
More than 20 elephants had died in a little over a year in the area, which is a known corridor for the wild animals, the official said.
He said the train was traveling at 70 kilometers (43 miles) an hour when the speed limit was restricted to a maximum of 40kmph (25mph).
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