Battle Royale: Train vs. Elephant

Train Wins.

In Assam, India, a train rammed into a wild Asian elephant, dragging it over a mile and causing it to bleed to death. The male, tuskless elephant was one of a herd crossing railroad tracks in a well-known "elephant corridor." Locals fear that the herd, which has been trumpeting frequently, will return to look for the elephant. I'll spare you the graphic picture, but if you want to see, click here. Sadly, elephant death by train is not uncommon. Over 50 elephants have been killed by trains in the last three years.

Elephants are one of the most beloved animals on earth. Kids and adults alike love them. Some cultures worship them. And why not? They're unlike any other animal. Mothers carry their babies for 22 months, calves weigh about 225 pounds at birth, they live to be about 70 years, they don't eat meat, females lead the herd, they have exceptional memories and they mourn their dead.

That said, elephants kill 300-400 people a year. In a National Geographic Channel Explorer special called "Elephant Rage," scientists theorized that this is due to the fact that elephants are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We know that humans mistreat elephants in many ways and are continuing to encroach on elephant habitat and destroy their food sources. Where are these big animals to go?