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.