Deer on the railway line: spatiotemporal trends in mortality patterns of roe deer

Hart, Vlastimil

doi:10.3906/zoo-1308-18

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Likewise, Sarma et al (2006) in Assam found one peak in June-July during the active monsoon period, when elephants move away from floodplains to higher ground through which railway tracks run, and another in November that coincides with the paddy crop harvesting season. Studies on other herbivores, such as Sika deer (Ando 2003), moose (Alces alces, Andersen et al 1991), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, Kusta et al 2014), also suggested that collisions with trains peaked during the seasons when animals moved widely in search of food.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, 200 moose train collisions were estimated in the province of British Columbia, Canada, during 1988-1990(Child et al 1991, with 266 collisions in a 92 km section of railways in Norway during 1980-1988(Andersen et al 1991, and between 9 and 725 collisions annually in Alaska (Modafferi 1991). Similarly, 69 roe deer train collisions in the Czech Republic were reported during 2009 (Kusta et al 2014). Therefore, there is an urgent need for more information on train-wildlife collisions, and how these may be mitigated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Railways and Wildlife: A Case Study of Train-Elephant Collisions in Northern West Bengal, India

Roy

Sukumar

2017

Railway Ecology

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The extensive network of the Indian Railways cuts through several forested landscapes, resulting in collisions of trains with a variety of wildlife species, including the largest land mammal-the elephant. In India, railway lines cross elephant habitats in several states, with accidents that resulted in more than 200 elephant deaths between 1987 and 2015. As the 161-km Siliguri-Alipurduar track in the northern West Bengal state witnesses train-elephant collisions frequently, we developed a case study there with the objectives of mapping locations of collisions and generating a susceptibility map showing locations prone to accidents. We mapped elephant crossing points and movement paths along this railway track, as well as accident locations. Between 1974 and 2015, collisions occurred throughout the line, although there were several hotspots where elephant deaths were concentrated. A disproportionate number of accidents occurred during the night. Crop raiding in villages and train elephant accidents seem to be closely related, probably due to an increased frequency of elephant movement near or across this railway track during the cultivation season. Male elephants were much more prone to accidents, possibly because of behavioural characteristics that make them cross railway tracks more frequently. To reduce the frequency of accidents in this region, we recommend reducing the speed of trains, limiting the operation of trains during at night, provisioning overpasses and underpasses, using communications technology, realigning a portion of the track, and fencing the track except for corridor areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Railways and Wildlife: A Case Study of Train-Elephant Collisions in Northern West Bengal, India

Roy

Sukumar

2017

Railway Ecology

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“…Reports of collisions are often done by train drivers, and occasionally by maintenance crew personnel, who visit the railways to maintain the rails, electric components, or fences (Huijser et al 2012), thus occasionally recording casualties but without a fixed periodicity (Gundersen et al 1998;Kušta et al 2014;SCV 1996). Recently, to minimize bias and identify hotspots properly, some studies have used reports of train drivers obtained systematically, with information on both the species and location of the accident (Dorsey 2011;Kušta et al 2011Kušta et al , 2015.…”

Section: Review Of the Methods Used On Wildlife Mortality Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods to Monitor and Mitigate Wildlife Mortality in Railways

2017

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Recording wildlife mortality on railways is challenging as they have narrow corridors and lower accessibility. To improve mitigation measures, surveys must be systematic and their frequency depending on the targeted species traits and biology. To obtain unbiased estimates in diverse contexts, the data should be corrected using mortality estimators. Mitigation measures must avoid that animals remain on the tracks, as trains cannot be instantly stopped. Box culverts, amphibian tunnels, and under-or overpasses allow a safe crossing, whereas exclusion fences, olfactory repellents, sound signals and sound barriers prevent the crossing of railways. Habitat management in railway verges improves the animal capability to evade trains.

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“…In Norway, although moose is the most reported victim of railway traffic, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is also a common one with 12.4% of all mammals recorded from 1993 to 1996, while reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and muskox (Ovibus moshatus) are killed more infrequently, with 2.8% and 0.17% respectively ). The roe deer was particularly affected in the Czech Republic with 0.8 kills/km in 2009 (Kušta et al 2014). In the Iberian Peninsula, although some deer and roe deer are reported to be killed by trains, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the most common ungulate victim (SCV 1996).…”

Section: The High Frequency Of Collision With Ungulatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current Knowledge on Wildlife Mortality in Railways

Santos

Carvalho

2017

Railway Ecology

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Wildlife mortality on roads has received considerable attention in the past years, allowing the collection of abundant data for a wide range of taxonomic groups. On the contrary, studies of wildlife mortality on railway tracks are scarce and have focused primarily on a few large mammals, such as moose and bears. Nevertheless, many species are found as victims of collisions with trains, although certain taxonomic groups, such as amphibians and reptiles, and/or small bodied species are reported infrequently and their mortality is probably underestimated. However, no assessment of population impacts is known for railways.

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Deer on the railway line: spatiotemporal trends in mortality patterns of roe deer

Cited by 24 publications

References 22 publications

Railways and Wildlife: A Case Study of Train-Elephant Collisions in Northern West Bengal, India

Railways and Wildlife: A Case Study of Train-Elephant Collisions in Northern West Bengal, India

Methods to Monitor and Mitigate Wildlife Mortality in Railways

Current Knowledge on Wildlife Mortality in Railways

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