Spatial patterns of roadkill within Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar

• Published in: Austral ecology Vol. 49; no. 6
• Main Authors: Ramsay, Malcolm S., Mercado Malabet, Fernando, Ravelonjanahary, Hajanirina N., Razafindrakoto, Andriamahery, Lehman, Shawn M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Richmond Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-2024
• Subjects: Animals; Collision mortality; Collisions; Madagascar; mitigation; Mortality; National parks; Protected areas; road ecology; roadkill; Roads; Species extinction; vehicular mortality; Wildlife; Wildlife conservation; wildlife‐vehicle collisions; Madagascar
• ISSN: 1442-9985; 1442-9993
• DOI: 10.1111/aec.13531

Wildlife‐vehicle collisions can be a significant cause of mortality for animals with ranges that overlap roads. Not all species are equally affected by roads and thus conservation practitioners need empirical data to determine appropriate mitigation measures. However, there is a lack of data on how tropical animals, in particular those on the island of Madagascar, are affected by roads and vehicular mortality. In order to fill in this gap in the literature we investigated the ecological and spatial factors influencing roadkill observations along Route National 4 in Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar. We observed 80 cases of roadkill along the highway belonging to at least 13 species, including the first published record of a lemur as roadkill. We also found that the density of roadkill was lower in the area between two speedbumps, suggesting these are an effective measure to mitigate wildlife‐vehicle collisions. These results showcase that even within protected areas of Madagascar animals are at risk of vehicular mortality but mitigation measures are possible. Given the high rates of endemicity coupled with vulnerability to extinction of many Malagasy fauna there is an urgent need for more research on road ecology in Madagascar.
Famintinana
Mety ho antony manan‐danja mahatonga fahafatesana ho an'ny biby dia izay manana toeram‐ponenana mifanindry amin'ny lalana ny fandonan'ny fiara. Tsy voatery mitovy anaefa ny fiantraikan'ny lalana ho an'ny karazam‐biby rehetra ka noho izany dia mila angon‐kevitra mivaingana ireo mpisehatra eo amin'ny fiarovana mba ahafahany mamaritra tsara ny fepetra tena mifanaraka amin'ny fampihenana izany. Na izany aza, misy tsy fahampiana angon‐kevitra momba ny biby amin'ny tany mafana, singanina manokana i Madagasikara, sy ny fiantraikan'ny lalana sy fiara amin'ny fahafatesany. Mba hamenoana io banga eo amin'ny tahirin‐kevitra io dia nanao fikarohana ny antony ara‐ekolojika sy ara‐toerana izay mahatonga ny fahitana biby matin'ny fiara teny amin'ny Lalam‐pirenena fahefatra tany amin'ny valan‐java‐boaharin'Ankarafantsika eto Madagasikara izahay. Nahitanay tranga 80 teny ami'ny Lalam‐pirenena izay tao anatin'ny karazany 13 farafahakeliny, ka anisan'izany ilay gidro voarakitra ary voalaza voalohany fa matin'ny fiara. Hitanay koa fa ambany kokoa ny tahan'ny biby matin'ny fiara teo anelanelan'ny ireo vohitra fampihenana hafainganam‐pandeha roa, izay sosokevitra mahomby mba hampihenana ny fifandonan'ny fiara sy ny biby dia. Ireo valiny ireo dia mampiseho fa na dia ao anatin'ny faritra voaaro eto Madagasikara aza ireo biby dia tandindomin‐doza amin'ny fahafatesana noho ny fiara ihany nefa misy kosa ny fepetra hanenana izany. Manoloana ny taha ambony amin'ny fananan‐tsamirery ampian'ny faharefoana ho amin'ny faharinganana eo amin'ireo biby Malagasy dia ilaina maika ny fikarohana momba ny ekolojian'ny lalana eto Madagasikara.
We observed 80 cases of roadkill belonging to at least 13 species (including birds, mammals and reptiles). We also found that the density of roadkill was lower in the area between two speedbumps, suggesting these are an effective measure to deter wildlife‐vehicle collisions.