“A healthy planet and an equitable world that values and sustains diversity of all life”
Roadkill Research and Mitigation Project
Wildlife and Transport Programme
Roadkill – a growing threat to biodiversity
Roads are integral to the financial development and prosperity of the local and national economy in South Africa and there is a potential conflict between development and conservation. South Africa needs infrastructure and road building cannot be prevented. South Africa is estimated to have the world’s fifth-largest mining sector in terms of GDP value (accounting for 18%) with reserves of an estimated worth of R21 trillion. Mining accounts for 50% of transportation volume in South Africa. In addition, tourism is an important revenue earner for the country, currently accounting for 7.9% of GDP. With expectations that will generate an annual contribution of R58 billion by 2020, the country’s transport network will be placed under increasing pressure to meet these demands. Furthermore, the South African population is estimated at 51 million people, and with a positive economic growth of 4%, pressure is anticipated on all modes of transport (Statistics South Africa 2012).
Much data for human-road-casualties are available in South Africa with wildlife often viewed as a contributor to traffic accidents as opposed to roads being a threat to wildlife. Of the 11,577 fatal road accidents in 2008 (RTMC 2008), wildlife-vehicle collision did not rate as a category for describing the type of collision, but came under the heading of “other” or “unknown”, of which 714 could have been due to animal-vehicle collision. Around R1 billion is spent each year on accident insurance claims in South Africa, with R794 million devoted to possible wildlife-vehicle collisions. Whilst these claims compensate vehicle owners, there is no benefit from these claims to ameliorating the negative impacts on animals.
There is therefore little known about the impacts of roads on South African wildlife. South Africa is the third most biologically diverse country on Earth (IUCN Red List 2012) with populations of many vertebrate species coming under increasing pressure from human development. The demand for quick, resourceful methods of recognising the latent threat caused by roads is becoming more urgent.
In 2011, over a 120-day period in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, 1121 roadkill carcasses were identified from 166 different species. This did not account for animals that crawled off the road to die after being hit or were scavenged by predators. Of the 1121 roadkill detected, birds were the most commonly impacted species with 52% of the total sample. Mammals, reptiles and amphibians followed with 26%, 20% and 2% respectively. Additional records indicated that five cheetahs were killed on roads adjacent to the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area between January 2006 and June 2009 and nine African wild dog road fatalities in a 3-month period in 2012. With only 450 African wild dogs left in South Africa, roads may have serious impacts on this species.
How can you help?
Since the start of the Roadkill Research and Mitigation Project, two years ago, there has been a huge amount of support from the public. Awareness of roads as a threat to wildlife has been raised through our newsletters as well as a number of published media articles. Consequently, public concern has shown a willingness to assist with further collection of data. The collection of this data is twofold; firstly there is a need to identify ‘hotspot’ areas in the country where roadkill is high, and secondly, for roadkill numbers to be monitored on those roads and the data recorded.
This data can then be entered onto a data sheet which can be downloaded from our website or entered on the soon-to-be-available cellular Smartphone appl. The EWT has developed a software application that can be downloaded to a Smartphone which will enable the user to record roadkill. The software will provide accurate information such as the GPS co-ordinates of the roadkill (and therefore the road), as well as species identification through photographs. This easy-to-access-information will then be catalogued at a central database and analysis will provide a greater understanding of the magnitude of this threat. This simple-to-use data collection method will be available soon to any volunteers willing to assist with the project and regular feedback will be provided. Data collected by volunteers will enable focused mitigation efforts resulting from this knowledge.
To take part simply type this link into the Safari browser on your Android platform phone: http://www.prismsw.com/roadwatch/android/RoadWatchSouthAfrica.apk
The app will be available on the Apple platform shortly. If, during your travels, you spot any roadkill on our roads please record your sighting via the app and the EWT-WTP will use the data you share in their work to reduce the impacts of transport infrastructure on our wildlife.
The WTP is supported by Bridgestone SA, N3 Toll Concession and Arrow Bulk Logistics. For further information about the Wildlife & Transport Programme, or if you would like to become involved, please contact Claire Patterson-Abrolat clairep@ewt.org.za or Wendy Collinson wendyc@ewt.org.za.
Contact details:
Wendy Collinson
Field Officer: Roadkill Research and Mitigation Project, Endangered Wildlife Trust