Passengers on trains on many lines have been delayed as badgers dig holes and cause tracks to collapse.
Dutch authorities are building new, safer burrows for badgers. image: adobe
While other train services in Europe have been hit by worker strikes, infrastructure costs and erratic weather, Dutch railways face unusual risks from the badger. Badgers disrupted rail operations in the Netherlands as they burrowed under the tracks, causing delays for many passengers, CNN Reported on March 23.
There are approximately 7,000 badgers in the Netherlands. Local media pointed to 40 locations across the country where badgers could obstruct rail services. They often choose inconvenient places to nest. Train traffic between the two major southern cities of Den Bosch and Eindhoven has been disrupted for weeks over fears that the sandwich tunnel will weaken the ground beneath the tracks.
“Kangaroos burrow in the sand. Therefore, they prefer to live on railway embankments,” said a spokesman for ProRail, the Dutch government organization responsible for maintaining the national rail network. “But they need to leave. The tracks have sunk due to the hole being dug and the train traffic is not safe. That’s why there are currently no trains running between Workum and Stavoren.” Workum and Stavoren are in the Friesland province in the north of the Netherlands.
On the morning of March 23, ProRail established a stronghold in Molkwerum, a village between Workum and Stavoren, while attempting to lure the badgers into man-made burrows at a safe distance from the tracks. ProRail has also announced plans to install several kilometers of fencing to keep badgers out of the tracks. But removing them takes time. According to ProRail’s announcement, the badgers will have a week to migrate to the new burrows under the guidance of ecologists. If the badgers refuse to migrate, ProRail will start digging on April 3.
Veterinarians will be on site to anesthetize any badgers remaining under the tracks. The badgers will be taken to a temporary shelter before returning to a man-made burrow next to the track. Work to remove the mezzanine and reinforce the tracks will continue until April 24.
they are kang (Theo CNN)
