Understanding the Ecological Impacts of Roads on Wildlife: A Focus on the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, India

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

Arockianathan Samson ¹

Jeyasubashini Regupathikannan ²

Phillmon Smart Edward ²

Nizamudheen Moinudheen ³

¹ Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre, Bombay Natural History Society, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.

² Centre for Landscape Ecology, Research & Development Division, Fedstan GMC Registered Private Limited, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

³ Independent Researcher, Nilgiri Hills, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, India

10.22067/ijab.2024.89897.1082

Abstract

The expansion of road networks poses significant challenges to wildlife, particularly in biodiversity-rich areas like the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Tamil Nadu, India. This study examines the impact of roads on wildlife within the MTR by analyzing roadkill data across three road segments: an interstate highway, a state highway, and a secondary road. Over ten months of surveys, a total of 343 roadkills were recorded, encompassing 42 species, with reptiles (30.32%) and amphibians (27.41%) being the most affected taxa. The interstate highway segment exhibited the highest number of roadkills, particularly for reptiles and amphibians. Roadkill frequency was higher in Dry Deciduous Forest habitats compared to Dry Thorn Forests. The Three-striped Palm Squirrel, Jungle Babbler, and Garden Lizard were identified as the most susceptible species within their respective taxa. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted mitigation measures, such as wildlife crossings and speed restrictions, to reduce road-related wildlife mortality in the MTR and similar landscapes across India.

Keywords

Habitat types

Hotspots

Road mortality

Roadkill patterns

Wildlife conservation

Subjects

• Ecology and Evolution

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