In Japan, turtles often get stuck in train tracks causing disruptions to services and delays to commuters, but more tragically, death to the turtles themselves.
So West Japan Railway Co. teamed up with Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe to design and install five U-shaped concrete “turtle tunnels” that ensure safe passage when turtles try to cross train tracks.
This means the slow moving reptiles won’t get crushed by trains or get stuck in track switches.
According to The Japan Times, railway staff inspect the ditches during their monthly track check and rescue any turtles that may have fallen in.
The ditches were built at two stations in Nara Prefecture in April and November and a total of 10 turtles have been saved from death so far. Fantastic!
“The system prevents turtles from getting into accidents and avoids causing trouble for our passengers. We hope to continue using it,” a JR West official said.