Lakshmi died tragically when a truck crashed into her. Sadly, many elephants are killed and suffer a painful death every year in India in road accidents.  This happens because elephants, although large in size, are hard to spot by drivers because of their gray colour.  This is especially true at night when elephants are walking through fog on poorly lit roads.

At night is when a lot of elephant trafficking and smuggling occurs.  In order to go undetected from authorities, elephants without ownership documents are walked across state borders to evade enforcement authorities under the cover of darkness. This is also when fatal accidents occur resulting in dead elephants. 

Countless elephants succumb to this painful death every year.  Many more are hit on the roads by truck and automobiles. They receive traumatic injuries that they will never recover from.  

Delhi and Mumbai have taken action to ban elephants in their cities.  It is time that other states implement similar laws that protect both elephants and drivers.  Demand that the government take action and ban elephants from walking on India’s streets.  Your signature will help prevent elephants like Lakshmi from an untimely and agonizing death.