50|50 Episode 38 – 4 March 2013
Roadkill
How many of us have been driving the highways and byways of South Africa after dark and have suddenly had to brake or swerve to avoid a collision with an animal crossing the road? How many of us driving in the daylight have passed the carcasses of mammals, birds and reptiles that have been killed by other passing motor vehicles? Over a 120 day period in the in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, there were 1 121 fatalities of 162 different species. This is one section of road in one small geographic region of South Africa. There are 754 600 km of roads in South Africa. These roads bisect habitats, territories and home ranges of animals and separate feeding areas from den sites. Wendy Collinson of the EWT has been conducting the very first comprehensive roadkill survey in South Africa over the last 2 years.http://endangeredwildlifetrust.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/690/
http://www.5050.co.za/?p=732
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