A SURVEY OF VERTEBRATES’ ROADKILL WITHIN A 10 KM RADIUS FROM THE CENTRE OF KUALA PILAH TOWN, NEGERI SEMBILAN

Abstract

Assessing animal roadkill provides valuable insights into the diversity and abundance of different species within a particular area. This study has the potential to uncover factors influencing the occurrence of animal roadkill. However, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on animal roadkill in small, secluded areas such as the Kuala Pilah district, Negeri Sembilan. Thus, this study evaluates the composition and distribution of vertebrate roadkill within a 10 km radius from the centre of Kuala Pilah Town, with a focus on temporal (time of discovery), spatial (types of roads and types of surrounding areas), and environmental factors (the presence of streetlights). The road segments located within a 10 km radius from Kuala Pilah Town have been examined in ten weeks and the found carcasses were identified by their taxonomic groups and photographed. Further, their discovery location has been observed and marked with coordinates. A chi square test was then performed to evaluate the occurrence of animal roadkill with all recorded data. This study revealed 48 animal carcasses, with a taxonomic composition of 27.08% birds (13 individuals), 50% mammals (24 individuals), 18.75% reptiles (9 individuals), and 4.17% amphibians (2 individuals). The roadkill patterns showed that squirrels and cats as the most prevalent species found, with higher carcass rates found in plantation/forest areas and on state roads. Roadkill occurrences increased between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., while streetlights had no noticeable impact on the numbers. Overall, mammals turned out to be the most frequent vertebrate class involved in roadkill with time being the only significant factor influencing the numbers. With a better understanding of the factors influencing vertebrate roadkill, mitigation strategies such as fencing, roadside vegetation clearance, and vehicle speed restrictions might be devised to minimize the adverse impacts of road infrastructure on local animal populations.