Wildlife road fatalities have emerged as a challenge in the human-wildlife interaction landscape.
Various countries have taken steps to mitigate the risk of accidents involving animals crossing roads by constructing wildlife passages like bridges, tunnels, and overpasses. These structures aim to prevent collisions, providing secure pathways for animal movement.
Watch the video at the end.
Often combined with highway fencing, these passages guide animals toward safety. Nevertheless, there remain regions where animals must navigate through roads to access different parts of their habitats.
A poignant example of this reality was recently captured in a video shared by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Supriya Sahu.
Shared on Twitter, the brief video showcases a mother elephant patiently instructing her young calf on the art of safely crossing a road.
The scene unfolds with the duo cautiously approaching the road. The calf pauses and clings close to its mother’s legs. The elder elephant appears to provide guidance, after which they continue forward.
Throughout the video, the calf stays near its mother, who skillfully moves around to ensure its safety as she imparts the road-crossing lesson.
Ultimately, the mother and calf triumph in their road-crossing endeavor. The caption accompanying the video reads, “Mother elephant seems to teach her baby how to cross the road. A sad reality.”
Within hours, the video garnered over nine thousand views, sparking a flood of reactions from animal enthusiasts. One commenter noted, “Humans have become a real problem to nature.”
Another questioned, “Why sad? Is it because we humans crossed the pathway of elephants?”
Simultaneously, someone asked for solutions, “What is the remedy? How can we create a safe environment for our wild? How can we prevent or at least minimize man-wild conflict?”
A participant added, “Raising awareness among humans. Truly commendable.”
As of now, the precise location where the video was recorded remains undisclosed.
What potential solutions can you envision for addressing this urgent issue?
