“The Republican Vote.”
Considered strong and brave.
Posted on 09/24/2010 6:10:44 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
A speeding goods train has crushed seven elephants to death in eastern India after the animals tried to rescue two calves that got stuck in the tracks.
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 on Wednesday night.
"Five elephants died immediately on the track while two others succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning," Atanu Raha, West Bengal's chief forest conservator, said. 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 travelling at 43mph when the speed limit was restricted to a maximum of 24mph.
"We have lodged a complaint with the local police station against the railway," he added. More:
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
KOLKATA: Dozens of elephants blocked a railway track running through a forest in northern West Bengal as they nursed one of their mates hit by a running train.
Train services were held up on the Siliguri-Alipurduar section that cuts through Dooars forest in eastern India after a freight train crashed into a herd of elephants crossing the tracks Tuesday night.
A male elephant was hurt and it fell on the rail line. Despite efforts by its mates to pull the injured animal back on its feet.
"Being human is not a matter of form but characteristics and elephants have the same characteristics as humans." They love each other, tenderly care for their young, celebrate birth and reunion, love to play, mourn their dead, and have the moral ability to know right from wrong. If they come upon a dead elephant, they stop, honor and pay tribute to them. They cover them with leaves and ask for permission to move on."
"The dying elephant lifted her trunk and put it on the man's arm to pull it away from the rifle. To keep him from killing her baby.." From stories of these magnificent, highly intelligent and evolved beings - Pachyderm Power.
This story reminds me of a joke I first heard in the 1970s:
Was the train the “Tea Party Express”?
And seven IS a lucky number.
A sad, but apparently rare, albeit tragic, occurrence.
Do we blame Bush, Cheney, Rove or all three?
We blame Man.
Where the hell is Willie Green at a time like this?
Installing wind power?
Oh Pulleze! So Sanjay was just out mowing down elephants?!!
elephants have the same characteristics as humans.” They love each other, tenderly care for their young, celebrate birth and reunion, love to play, mourn their dead, and have the moral ability to know right from wrong. If they come upon a dead elephant, they stop, honor and pay tribute to them. They cover them with leaves and ask for permission to move on.”
Are you paying attention RNC?
Elephant hamburger train ping!
that is a sad story.
ban the trains!
What they really need is high speed rail
...
Yeah, it is. Too bad too many commentators think its funny.
That gives all conservatives a bad name.
Elephants DO care for each other, have a high level of intelligence and are extremely social. In many ways, they have similar qualities to human beings.
A good book is “When Elephants Weep”.
They are amazing creatures - deserving of our respect.
And, likely, not as many of the negative aspects.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.