Cause To Shell-ebrate: Turtle Tunnels Built So They Can Cross Train Tracks Safely

Japan’s love for turtles is so strong that they have built tunnels for them so that they can cross train tracks without getting run over.

The ingenious idea was brought in after several incident that saw the animals getting trapped in the tracks that caused delays, train damage and the death of the turtles.

After getting stuck in the metallic rails, they would follow the track until they either got run over or stuck in the railway switching system - which would eventually crush them.

Danger: The turtles would previously get caught in the train tracks (Sumasui.jp)

Due to the tracks being close to the popular Suma Aquiline Park, turtles from the nearby ocean make the perilous journey across them every year in the summer months.

But now the West Japan Railway Company have installed the tunnels - that fit neatly underneath where the train passes - to stop them being killed.

Around 10 turtles have been seen using the tunnels since they were put in place in April this year - meaning 10 lives were saved and 10 potential train accidents were prevented.

Top pic: Sumasui.jp