Given that in Misiones, the wildlife roadkill is one of the main causes of loss of specimens, an innovative measure seeks to mitigate this impact. Animals use sewers and bridges as safe crossings.
These elements were adapted to function as wildlife crossings, thus optimizing their use by wildlife.
The tasks of adapting drainage bridges and sewers as alternative passages for wildlife in the province are well advanced. In addition, preliminary monitoring shows encouraging results.
Animals use sewers as safe crossings in Misiones: how they work
This work was led by the Wildlife Foundation Argentina, the Institute of Subtropical Biology (IBS-CONICET), the Atlantic Forest Research Center (CeIBA), and the National Parks Administration.
The innovative measure to mitigate wildlife roadkill. (Photo: Wildlife Foundation Argentina).
The focus in the first stage was on the Iguazú National Park. Dry sidewalks or footbridges were built in existing sewers and bridges to allow animals to safely cross under the road.
In addition, conducting fences and escape ramps were installed. While these measures do not represent a definitive solution to the problem, they aim to mitigate wildlife roadkill on roads that cross protected natural areas, complementing other initiatives aimed at reducing the road impact on biodiversity.
“In just four days of monitoring one of the sewers intervened to favor species that avoid contact with water, the technical team was able to verify that they have already started using it,” said Lucía Lazzari, coordinator of the forests program of the Wildlife Foundation Argentina.
“In a few hours, trap cameras photographed a lowland paca (mountain rabbit) and a margay using the footbridges,” she added. “Although it is an early sample, the images obtained seem to indicate that the effort was worth it,” she emphasized.
How the innovative measure to mitigate roadkill was conceived
This is how animals cross in Iguazú.
With the aim of evaluating the use of sewers by wildlife to safely cross roads, between 2022 and 2023, the research team monitored 34 kilometers of roads.
They included National Routes RN12, RN101, and access to the Cataratas area and the Airport within the Iguazú National Park and the Puerto Península Provincial Park.
With trap cameras installed in 21 sewers and bridges, more than 450,000 photographs were obtained. In addition, 35 nearby sites of jungle were analyzed to evaluate the presence and behavior of species around these structures.
The study showed that various animal species, many of them endangered, used sewers and bridges below the road to cross them.
However, it was observed that certain species had limitations in using them, mainly in those sewers with water almost permanently.
This situation hinders the use of structures for several species, such as margays, which do not like to get wet. Based on this study, different adjustments to these crossings were designed and implemented to increase their effectiveness as alternative wildlife passages.
How it was done
As a result, improvements were made to existing sewers and new structures were built to optimize their use as safe wildlife crossings.
Conducting fences were installed over the road, fences located in high-risk areas for the roadkill of sensitive species and accompanied by a wildlife passage.
Many existing structures were also adapted.
Loss of wildlife: the roadkill problem
The loss of wildlife is one of the issues leading to biodiversity deterioration. In Argentina, a recent report revealed that one of the main causes is animal roadkill on roads.
This usually occurs on roads that cross protected natural areas. This mainly happens in the northern part of the country. In Misiones alone (specifically in the northern province), it is estimated that more than 5000 specimens die each year.
This issue not only poses a risk to wildlife but also to human safety.
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