Jammu, March 4: In a groundbreaking first, the Jammu Division of Northern Railway has transported rare zoo animals from Jammu to Chennai by train—a major leap in long-distance wildlife logistics.
On Tuesday, two leopard cats and two black bears left Jammu Railway Station in a special parcel van hooked to train 16032. The journey covers nearly 2,800 km and should reach MGR Chennai in Tamil Nadu in about 54 hours. Officials note it’s quicker and safer than road travel.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal called it a proud milestone. “Our division is innovating daily,” he said. “We recently moved 23 exotic bulls from Bengaluru to Kashmir by rail, and now we’re sending zoo animals to Chennai—a game-changer for animal transport.”
Rail offers a stress-free ride, even in bad weather, Singhal added. A team of expert vets and keepers is monitoring the animals’ health en route, with full compliance to Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for food, water, and welfare.
Railway authorities hail this as one of India’s longest wildlife rail transits, setting a new standard for safe, organized animal movement.
Public Relations Inspector Raghvender Singh emphasized the railways’ growing expertise in specialized cargo. “This shows our precision and care in action.”
