Analysis of Wildlife Roadkill in a Road Circuit. Case study of a Colombian road in the Department of Huila: Neiva - Rivera - Campoalegre

Abstract

This research contributes information related to records of wildlife roadkill in the different roads of the department of Huila. The results come from samplings carried out during the rainy season from October to December of 2017 on the Neiva - Rivera - Campoalegre road circuit. The highest roadkill rate was recorded in section 1, Neiva - Rivera (Los Cauchos tollbooth); which had high traffic flow during the day (5045 vehicles/month), high speed limit (90 km / h), and an arboreal coverage that forms a green tunnel due to the lack of lighting on this road. A total of 102 dead specimens were registered in this case study; predominantly mammals (53 specimens, 51.96%) and the species Didelphis marsupialis (48, 47.06%), followed by reptiles (34, 33.33%) whose most affected species were the Boa constrictor (9, 8.82%) and the Iguana iguana (7, 6.86%). Additionally, birds were the third most affected group (12, 11.76%) classified in 8 species, such as the Megascops choliba which was the most affected (4, 3.92%). Amphibians were the least affected group (3, 2.94%), mainly the Rhinella horribilis species (2, 1.96%).