The Journal of Zoology Studies

Vol. 3 No. 4 2016 Journalofzoology.com

Page 87

The Journal of Zoology Studies 2016; 3(4): 87-90

ISSN 2348-5914

JOZS 2016; 3(4): 87-90

JOZS © 2016

Received: 23-07-2016

Accepted: 23-09-2016

Mohammad Quamruzzaman

Wildlife Conservation Team of

Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Prosenjit Debbarma

Naturalist and Eco tour Guide

Satchari National Park, Habiganj,

Bangladesh

Md. Abu Hanifa Mehedi

Natural Resource Management

Facilitator, USAID’s Climate-

Resilient Ecosystems and

Livelihoods (CREL) project

Center for Natural Resource Studies

(CNRS), Satchari National Park,

Chunarughat, Habiganj,

Bangladesh

Corresponding Author:

Mohammad Quamruzzaman

Wildlife Conservation Team of

Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

E-mail: q.babu62@gmail.com

Observations on some roadkill of snakes and mammals adjacent

to Satchari National park, Bangladesh

Authors: Mohammad Quamruzzaman, Prosenjit Debbarma, Md. Abu Hanifa Mehedi

Abstract

Satchari National Park is one of the biodiversity rich protected forests in north-east region of

Bangladesh which is potentially a biodiversity hotspot of that region. A road passing adjacent to

this National Park is the growing concern for wildlife now a day because of accident due to

vehicular traffic. About 8 different species of wildlife fauna were found dead due to collision

with vehicles. We mainly focused on the mortality of snakes and mammals during the study.

The following opportunistic survey was conducted from May 2015 and April 2016 to observe

the actual scenario of the roadkills animals.

Keywords: Satchari National Park, Roadkills, King Cobra, Bangladesh

1. Introduction

Accidents with vehicles on road may affect populations of common and threatened species [3]

.

Roads are known to cause mortality of animals due to accidents with vehicular traffic, habitat

loss due to deforestation, affect animal movement, cause change in animal behavior, and cause

ecological effects such as fragmentation [4, 5, 6, 10]

. Studies related to roadkill animals have been

wisely conducted in North America, Europe, Australia and some African countries but in Asia

notably Bangladesh very few studies are available. Satchari National Park is a segment of the

Raghunandan Hill Reserve Forest under Chunarughat Upazila of Habiganj district, located

between 24°5' to 24°10' N latitude and 91°25' to91°30' E longitude.It was declared as National

Park in 2005 with an area of 242.91 hectare [1]

. The Park stands on the old Dhaka-Sylhet

highway some 130-140 Km northeast of Dhaka city. The forest area is comprised of scattered

slopes and hillocks ranging from 10-15 meters in height [11]

. The following roadkill observations

were sampled adjacent to the road of national park from May 2015 to April 2016. No systematic

survey techniques were followed other than opportunistic survey. For identification several field

guides were used [2, 7, 9]

. We have not preserved any animals during our survey.

2. Methods

To quantify the direct impact of roads on wild animals, the number of roadkills that occurred on

road passing near Satchari National Park was counted. The study was restricted to snakes and

mammals. To quantify the roadkills, the road was surveyed systematically between 0600 and

0900 hr twice a month at fortnightly intervals for eight months from May 2015 and April 2016.

In addition, using opportunistic sampling method, data on roadkills were also collected during

incidental visits and based on the information received from other researchers, department staff

and local people. At every sighting of a roadkill, information such as place, species name,

number and status of the kill was recorded. After recording the above details, the carcass was

removed from the road.

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3. Results

We observed a total of eight incidents of roadkill

animals during our study. Some of the animals are

threatened nationally and globally.

3.1 King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah): A single

dead specimen was encountered on 21 March 2016.

Total length of this snake was 338 cm. According to

the recently published IUCN Bangladesh Red List

assessment, the species is put in Vulnerable (VU)

category [8]

. King cobra is also categorized as

Vulnerable (VU) globally.

Fig 1: A roadkills King Cobra near Satchari National

Park

3.2 Phayre’s Leaf-monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei): On 27 March 2016, two Phayre’s Leaf-monkey (a

mother and an infant) was found dead some .5 km

away from National Park main gate. According to local

people the accident occur with a collision with high

speed bus. Phayre’s Leaf-monkey is in Critically

Endangered (CR) in Bangladesh and Endangered (EN)

globally.

Fig 2: Two dead body of Phayre’s Leaf-monkey near

road as a result of bus accident.

3.3 Wild Boar (Sus scrofa): A single animal was seen

dead on the road near National park on 12 June 2015.

The accident may occur in early morning while the

boar was trying to cross the road. The species has been

enlisted as Least Concern (LC) both in Bangladesh and

Globally according to IUCN.

Fig 3: A dead carcass of Wild Boar in the road passing

near National park

3.4 Hoary-bellied Squirrel (Callosciurus

pygerythrus): On 26 November 2015 a Hoary-bellied

Squirrel was seen dead in the road passing adjacent to

the National Park. The species has been enlisted as

Least Concern (LC) both in Bangladesh and Globally

according to IUCN.

Fig 4: A dead Hoary-bellied squirrel on the road

3.5 Green Cat Snake (Boiga cyanea):A Green Cat

Snake was spotted dead on the road on 13 October

2015. The species is enlisted as Least Concern (LC)

according to the IUCN Red List 2015 in Bangladesh.

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Fig 5: A roadkills Green Cat Snake in the road near

National Park

3.6 Eastern Cat Snake (Boiga Gokool):It is a Near

Threatened (NT) species in Bangladesh. A single

individual was found on the road on 23 April 2015.

Fig 6: Roadkilled Eastern Cat Snake

3.7 Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus): Banded

Krait is described as a Least Concern (LC) species in

Bangladesh and all over the world. A single individual

was spotted on 21 January 2016 as a roadkilled.

Fig 7: Roadkilled Banded Krait

3.8 Ornate Flying Snake (Chrysopelea ornata): On

24 may 2015 a dead specimen was spotted near road

passing adjacent to National Park. This is a Least

Concern (LC) species in Bangladesh.

Fig 8: A roadkilled Ornate Flying Snake near Satchari

National Park

4. Conclusion

The present study is preliminary in nature as it was a

short term study and has some drawbacks like actual

rate of mortality per day and seasonal variability on the

rate of roadkill which could not be worked out. A more

detailed year round study will enable us to understand

better the impact of vehicular traffic. This study

suggests that mortality due to vehicles is noteworthy

for wildlife in the study area. Species of conservation

concern such as King Cobra and Phayre’s Leaf-

monkey were killed by vehicular traffic. Long term

studies in this study area as well as other protected and

forested areas are required to ascertain the actual

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magnitude of roadkills in relation to populations of

particular species.

5. Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Sylhet Forest Department

and the staff of Satchari National Park for assisting us

in collecting the field data and also for sharing their

knowledge and information.

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6. Goosem M. Internal fragmentation: the effects of

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8. IUCN Bangladesh. Red List of Bangladesh: A

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11. Sultana R. Linking fuelwood collection and

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In: Making Conservation Work: Linking rural

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West Center,Hawaii, USA: 2007; 110-130 pp.

Quamruzzaman M, Debbarma P, Mehedi AHM. Observations on some roadkill of snakes and mammals adjacent to Satchari National park, Bangladesh. Journal of Zoology Studies. 2016; 3(4):87-90.

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