Conservationists elevate concern over rising roadkill within the Nilgiris

Wider roads reducing via forest patches and elevated visitors are resulting in an increase in roadkill in areas bordering Udhagamandalam city.

According to conservationists, the stretches the place roadkill has develop into a significant downside are alongside the Udhagamandalam-Kotagiri highway and the Ooty-Gudalur highway, with the stretch close to Golf Links highway witnessing a excessive variety of wild animal deaths over the previous few years.

“With the National Highway connecting Ooty and Gudalur – particularly the stretch linking the Government Medical College and Hospital in Udhagamandalam – having been fastened with speedbreakers, most heavy automobiles desire to make use of Golf Links highway, which is closely utilized by wildlife, together with leopards, leopard cats, jungle cats, deer, Asiatic wild canines, and different small animals. Over the previous few years, many animals have been killed whereas crossing the stretch,” stated N. Sadiq Ali, founding father of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust.

Besides the Golf Links Road, the highway resulting in Doddabetta from Udhagamandalam has additionally witnessed a excessive variety of animal casualties.

In a latest examine titled ‘The Cost of Crossing: An preliminary try to uncover wildlife vehicular mortality in Doddabetta, Nilgiris,’ researchers, whereas endeavor highway transect surveys over a five-month interval between February and June in 2025, documented roadkill involving 81 particular person animals representing 19 completely different species.

While a majority of them concerned Indian toads (20) and the Horsfield’s spiny lizard (40) – an endemic species – endangered species such because the variable ghat frog and the Nilgiri laughinghthrush had been additionally discovered to have been victims of highway accidents.

N. Moinudheen, one of many authors of the examine, stated that consciousness creation amongst highway customers utilizing these stretches was of paramount significance. “For occasion, wildlife lovers would in all probability be the one ones who know that species such because the Horsfield’s spiny lizard are discovered alongside the Doddabetta highway in giant numbers, or that the realm is dwelling to a wide selection of endemic wildlife species. The area can be dwelling to numerous Nilgiri martens which can be steadily seen. The Forest division, in affiliation with highways officers, may look into creating consciousness amongst highway customers about the necessity to adhere to hurry limits alongside these stretches to forestall roadkill,” stated Mr. Moinudheen.