Agra: A gravely injured Indian Striped Hyena was rescued by Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit, after it was hit by a speeding train in Gadi Dariyab village, located in Fatehabad, Agra. The animal has a severe spinal cord injury and is currently receiving treatment.

A female Hyena was left fighting for her life after being hit by a speeding train just a few metres away from Fatehabad Railway station.

Shocked by the sight of the animal lying unconscious near the railway tracks, a concerned passer-by alerted the forest department, who in turn reached out to Wildlife SOS on their 24-hour helpline for immediate medical intervention.

A two-member team from the NGO arrived at the location, equipped with an ambulance, rescue equipment, and a specially designed transport cage. The rescuers carefully moved the hyena to the ambulance and rushed to the Wildlife SOS transit facility for urgent medical treatment. The impact of the collision left the animal with severe spinal cord injury and multiple wounds on the body. Estimated to be a little over 5-years-old, the hyena's condition is critical.

Dr Ilayaraja, Deputy Director Veterinary Services for Wildlife SOS, said, “We had to exercise extreme caution in retrieving the hyena as the extent of her injuries were quite severe. A detailed radiography examination revealed a severe spinal injury and multiple abrasion wounds on the head and ear regions. We are doing our best to treat the animal, however, the prognosis remains grave.”

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “We are glad to see that more and more people are making a conscious decision to help out animals in distress. Our team is closely monitoring the hyena’s condition and carrying out intensive treatment. With little or no provision for wildlife corridors or underpasses in and around city limits that allow urban wildlife to crossroads or railway tracks safely, many unsuspecting animals put their lives at risk while navigating the roads and often fall victim to vehicular or train collisions.”

Prem Nath Tiwari, RFO, Fatehabad, said, “Hyenas are commonly sighted in this range and we receive frequent calls about wild animals like hyenas and nilgais falling victim to the highway or railway accidents."

Every year, hundreds of animals such as hyenas, nilgais, jackals, leopards, and elephants end up with fatal injuries due to railway and highway accidents in India. If you come across an animal that is injured or caught in conflict situations, please alert Wildlife SOS on their 24-hr helpline number at 9917109666.