Each year, more than 1,600 animals hit by vehicles remain on the asphalt of a single stretch of road in Curitiba, in the south of Brazil.
A study by the UFPR confirmed it: just 5.1 km of road next to Parque Tingui are enough to become a death trap for wildlife.
The extension project Olha o Bicho, from the Federal University of Paraná, monitored that stretch for two years and collected 235 carcasses of wild species, from toads to armadillos.
The data showed that the animals hit by vehicles do not fall randomly: the collisions are concentrated in specific, identifiable, and above all, preventable points.
Where there are more animals hit by vehicles
The analysis with the Siriema software allowed mapping the critical points. The collisions accumulated mainly in:
- Areas near bodies of water, where amphibians move to reproduce
- Sections close to residential complexes, with more intense local traffic
- Segments with steep slopes, which make braking difficult and reduce visibility
The average time a carcass remains on the road was 9.05 days, a key data point to estimate how many animals hit by vehicles go unnoticed before being counted.
Amphibians, the main victims
Of the 235 carcasses collected, amphibians topped the list with 38% of the total, followed by mammals (29%), birds (22%), and reptiles (11%).
Toads of the genus Rhinella, known as sapos-cururu, are the animals hit by vehicles most frequently.
Their small size makes them almost invisible to drivers, and their seasonal movements to reproduce inevitably expose them to the road.
Among the recorded species were also the black-eared opossum, the armadillo, the burrowing owl, the tegu, and the yararaca.
Fernando de Camargo Passos, the project coordinator, was direct: being hit by vehicles “can be one of the main causes of wildlife mortality in urban areas with green fragments.”
In Curitiba, where high-traffic roads coexist meters away from parks and reserves, the problem does not stop at the studied stretch.
Therefore, Olha o Bicho also works with the community: it organizes workshops, distributes materials, and keeps open channels so that anyone can report carcasses or risk areas via WhatsApp and Instagram.
Today the project monitors a new stretch of 5.9 km at the entrance to the Curitiba Municipal Zoo. Those who detect animals hit by vehicles or dangerous points can write to WhatsApp (41) 98883-1876 or follow the initiative on Instagram as @olhaobicho.ufpr.
