Abstract
Over a 90–day period we assessed wildlife roadkill on National highway NH–16 in the state of Odisha, India. We recorded 123 vertebrate carcasses: 14 species of mammals, nine species of birds, and seven species of reptiles. Our findings reiterated NH–16 as a vulnerable site of roadkill of many native wild animals and birds. Further studies are required where linear infrastructure affects wildlife and appropriate management strategies are needed.
Highlights
The negative impact of roads on wildlife in protected areas was first reported in 1935 (Stoner, 1935)
Collisions with speeding vehicles are especially high on national highways and motorways (Tejera et al, 2018)
As part of a routine biodiversity study by the Odisha Biodiversity Board in Southern Odisha, National highway 16 in Odisha (NH–16) is frequently used to travel to various biodiversity–rich destinations in this area
Summary
The negative impact of roads on wildlife in protected areas was first reported in 1935 (Stoner, 1935). Collisions with vehicles are becoming a major cause of mortality for many species worldwide (Bager and Rosa, 2010). Road–related wildlife mortality caused by collision with moving vehicles affects healthy individuals as well as weak individuals in a population (Bujoczek et al, 2011) and may lead to local extinction of species (Clarke et al, 1998). Some animal groups, such as small or medium–size mammals, reptiles and birds, are more prone to vehicle collisions due to the changes in ecological behaviour. The roads may lead to fragmentation of their natural habitat and isolation of populations (Keller and Largiader, 2003)
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