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In an extraordinary moment of compassion and coexistence, an Indian Railways train came to a complete halt in Jharkhand to allow a wild elephant to safely give birth on the tracks. The train remained stationary for over two hours while the elephant delivered her calf, after which the mother and newborn calmly walked back into the forest.
The heartwarming incident was captured on camera and has since gone viral, evoking widespread praise across social media and from government officials.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the video, applauding the act as an example of harmonious human-wildlife coexistence.
“Beyond the news of human-animal conflicts, happy to share this example of human-animal harmonious existence. A train in Jharkhand waited for two hoursas an elephant delivered her calf. The video shows how the two later walked on happily,” the minister wrote.
The footage shows the mother elephant standing on or near the railway track, attended by forest officials and railway personnel, as she went into labour. The area remained undisturbed during the birth, with authorities ensuring the safety of both the animal and the train passengers.
Minister Yadav also used the opportunity to highlight the coordinated conservation efforts between the Ministry of Environment and Indian Railways. He noted that over 110 sensitive wildlife corridors had been identified across India through a survey of 3,500 kilometres of railway tracks. These corridors are now under active monitoring to minimise animal fatalities and support safe wildlife movement.
“It is lovely to see the efforts producing such heartwarming results. Special kudos to Jharkhand forest officials for their sensitivity, which helped the elephant deliver her young one,” Yadav added.
The video was widely circulated online and drew a wave of admiration. “It’s one of the best news I’ve seen today. Thanks, sir, for sharing,” one user commented under the minister’s post. Another wrote, “At least the elephant and her cub are safe. Kudos to railway people as well.”
