Studies on road kill dynamics and its potential for wild animal health investigations: a case study of Mikumi National Park
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Date
2009
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted at Mikumi National Park (MINAPA) with the main aim of assessing the roadkill dynamics and its potential in the surveillance of the wild animal diseases in the park. Roadkill dynamics were assessed by recording the types, number and frequency of animals killed by road accidents identifying factors that predispose animals to highway accidents as well as identifying accident hotspot areas. Similarly, secondary data on roadkill counts for September-April months for 2003-2007 period provided by the park were used for comparison purposes. To assess the type of infestations and infections of wild animals in MINAPA, various types of samples were taken on road-killed animals and these were complemented by other samples (faeces and ectoparasites) taken away from the highway. A total of 314 roadkill cases were counted during the study period. Mammals (especially smaller-bodied ones) suffered more deaths (145) (P<0.05) followed by reptiles (107) and birds (62). The roadkill pattern observed for mammal and bird groups during the present study was comparable to counts recorded during the same months during the 2003 - 2007 period, but was higher (P<0.002) for reptiles. When categorized on monthly bases, total roadkill per month increased significantly (P<0.05) during December and January and least in April. Most of the bacteria isolates in samples collected in-situ from roadkills belonged mainly to the Enterobactriceae family (Escherichia coli, Citrobacter spp, Klebsiella spp, and Proteus spp) while internal and external parasites belonged to the Phyla Platyhelminthes, Nemathelminthes and
Arthropoda of different families and genera. Faecal samples collected ex-situ showed that elephants had more egg counts whereas wildebeest had more coccidian oocyst counts than other animals investigated. Rhipicephalus appediculatus and Amblyoma variegatum were the main tick species found in the park. Undoubtedly, if this study is done over a long period of time, appropriate mitigation measures can easily be instituted to reduce the ever increasing incidence of roadkills in the park at the same time providing a low cost disease surveillance approach to a wide range of species.
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Masters Theses
Keywords
Roadkill animals-Tanzania, Wildlife conservation-Tanzania, Wildlife health, Wild animals-Diseases-Research, National parks and reserves-Tanzania, Transportation-Environmental aspects-Tanzania, Mikumi National Park