More rural roads leads to more road kill

AS ROAD networks continue to inch into the breathtaking yet fragile ecosystems of mountainous regions, a concerning trend is emerging: endangered and vulnerable wildlife is increasingly falling prey to vehicle collisions.

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This dire issue was brought to light by Professor Allan G. Roos of the recently held Southern African Mountain Corridors (SAMC 2025) where researchers and policy makers convened to discuss pressing environmental challenges.

Prof. G. Roos, who serves as the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State, presented a comprehensive study titled “Wildlife-vehicle collision in montane environments.”

The research highlighted that certain endangered animals, such as the African wild dog and elephants, along with vulnerable species like lions and leopards, are at significant risk as their habitats become accessible to vehicles.