Sri Lanka train kills mother elephant, two calves

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A train transporting oil in eastern Sri Lanka hit and killed two baby elephants and their pregnant mother on Tuesday, police said, the second jumbo tragedy in a month.

The three elephants, part of a larger herd, were crossing the railway track at dawn in jungle near Habarana, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Colombo, when they were hit.

The train was derailed and several tankers began spilling fuel, police said, adding that they set up a cordon to prevent villagers trying to salvage the oil.