The Roads Not Taken

Written by: Vaishnavi Apte

Taking the title from the famous poet Robert Frost, certain roads are actually diverging the yellow woods. (No pessimist interpretation meant.) But roads, a form of linear infrastructure are now considered a boon for development and a bane when they tear through precious wildlife habitat. The images of wild species – from tigers to amphibians being killed on roads is extremely disturbing to watch. Having worked as an intern studying avifauna and herpetofauna along Nagpur- Mumbai super-communication expressway; along various roads connecting the expressway, I observed frequent roadkill. From jackals to frogs to venomous snakes, speeding vehicles were unknowingly responsible for these deaths.  

Roads can have both direct and indirect impacts on wildlife. (1) ‘Direct’ impacts of roads usually refer to wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs), which result in millions of wildlife deaths per year across many countries. (1) ‘Indirect’ impacts can cover a variety of factors, from the ‘barrier effect’ (preventing animals from crossing) and habitat loss/degradation that roads cause, to road avoidance caused by artificial light and sound pollution, which can render many roadsides unsuitable for wildlife. (1)

Why are Roads a Death Sentence for Wildlife?

1. Direct Impacts: Injury or death of a wild animal, while crossing a road; due to collision with a vehicle. Roads in India are being built at the rate of 21km/day. (2) Roads, railways, power lines and canals usually require a narrow strip of land amounting to few hectares and this fact is used to obtain speedy (environmental) clearances with minimal due diligence. (2).  A recent study by Grilo et.al. published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography showed, that Leopard (Panthera pardus) in North India has the highest – 83% increased risk of extinction amongst a number of mammals studied worldwide. Same study indicates Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) to be vulnerable to roadkill. (3). Since elephants are known to use their ancient migratory routes for travelling long distances, construction of roads on these routes form one of the factors for their mortality on roads. A study of Roadkill due to traffic in Madhumalai Tiger Reserve (4) indicated that amphibians and reptiles are slow to react to vehicles and along with driver’s ignorance, probably lead to higher mortality on roads. Charismatic species like tigers make headline- ‘Bajirao’ a dominant male tiger from Bor Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra was knocked dead by a vehicle on a section of NH-6 that cuts through vital corridor connecting Bor and Melghat Tiger Reserve. (2). Roadkill both documented and non-documented is a huge reason for wildlife mortality in a huge number of taxa.

• Indirect Impacts: Roads cause habitat loss and fragmentation, not only through physical occupation but also through traffic noise. (5)

Roads cause significant Habitat Fragmentation

Habitat degradation by roads include- 1. Habitat loss due to land physically occupied by the road and 2. Land on both side of the road affected due to traffic noise above species specific threshold causing species to avoid the area. (5) Roads cause two types of habitat fragmentation due to road is of two types. One is structural habitat Fragmentation which is the loss in structural connectivity and loss of large habitat patches. The second is functional habitat fragmentation, which is the loss in functional connectivity of meta- populations. This is due to traffic noise and other nuisances deterring wildlife from vicinity of the roads(5). Species like the Lion -Tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) that live in the canopies are severely affected by such habitat fragmentation. Road penetration deeper into their habitats in the Western Ghats have caused increased tourist inflow, leading to feeding of unnatural foods to the macaques by the tourists. Feeding can also transmit human diseases to the macaques. (8)

Also, loss of canopy connectivity causes habitat fragmentation. This subsequently prevents the flow of genes between two populations.  This is true for many other species too. Numerous factors, such as road size, traffic volume and wildlife sensitivity influence the intensity of the habitat degradation. (5)

Roads also function as a prime habitat and corridor for the spread invasive plant species, especially in protected areas. (6) Traffic along the roads act as dispersal medium for invasive plant species. Furthermore, roads alter microhabitat conditions, which are ideal for invasive species.

Mitigating the Impact of Roads through Wildlife Passes

Roads may be a boon for connectivity. However, the impact of roads on wildlife is dependent on their size, length, habitat type plays an extremely important role. Fortunately, mitigation structures, if constructed can reduce wildlife mortality due to collisions and also maintain habitat connectivity. During the Super-communication Expressway internship, I observed a number of wildlife underpasses constructed along the expressway for the movement of animals. Also, the NH-7, that passes through Kanha-Pench corridor has the world’s longest and India’s first dedicated and functional underpass for wildlife. (2)

WCT’s field studies using camera traps showed a wide range of animal species using the underpasses of the NH-7 including the Indian Gaur, Bengal Tiger and Red Dhole. (7)For arboreal species, enabling canopy connectivity of native tree species above the roads will enable their movement and thus, prevent isolation of populations. (8) Specially made rope bridges can also reduce the gaps in areas where other methods cannot work.

How can the public help?

There is also an aspect of ethical human behaviour that needs to be implemented. Maintaining speed limit especially in areas where wildlife presence is known will help in reducing wildlife mortality. Also, off-roading should be prevented altogether as, it disturbs and alters the habitat – especially of fauna like insects and herps and causes their mortality.

 A citizen science application developed by the Wildlife Conservation Trust – The RoadKill App enables people to document wildlife mortality along various roads of the country. This will provide a database for researchers and infrastructure planners to reduce wildlife mortality and help identify sensitive locations where safe wildlife crossing structures can be installed. (2) 

Co-existing with wildlife is the only solution that we humans can afford and planning our lifestyle that blends and promotes that will help us in our sustenance. Roads as a lifeline should remain so, but also ensuring that our wildlife is not ‘harmed’ by this ‘lifeline’. Solutions to roadkills are neccesary.

Help us Help Them! Think Wildlife Foundation is a non profit organization with various conservation initiatives. Our most prominent campaign is our Caring for Pari intiative. Pari is a rehabilitated elephant at the Wildlife SoS Hospital. 25% of the profits from our store are donated to the elephant hospital for Pari. Other than buying our wonderful merchandise, you could donate directly to our Caring For Pari fundraiser.

References

1. https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/137714/1/Roads%20and%20Wildlife%20-%20PhD%20Thesis%20-%20Amy%20Williams%20Schwartz.pdf
2. Sanctuary Asia, Volume 38, Issue 4, April 2018, Rizwan Mithawala, Roads To Nowhere RoadKills- A citizen Science Initiative Pg No.- 50-55
3. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/in-depth/telling-numbers-roadkill-and-extinction-risk-for-leopards-in-north-india/ar-AAQiHKR
4. https://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/1175
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195925516303171
6. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/invasive-plant-science-and-management/article/abs/roads-as-corridors-for-invasive-plant-species-new-evidence-from-smooth-bedstraw-galium-mollugo/2F690D598
7. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/fight-for-nh-7-wildlife-mitigation-structures-will-be-visible-nationally/articleshow/85136724.cms
8. https://www.conservationindia.org/gallery/a-lion-tailed-macaque-by-the-roadside-anamalai-hills