Using a standard protocol, we conducted vertebrate roadkill surveys in the GreaterMapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA), South Africa, which is a WorldHeritage Site. A total of 991 roadkill were recorded on the paved roads and 36 roadkill on theunpaved roads. Identifiable roadkill comprised 162 species from 24 orders and 65 families.Ninety-three roadkill could not be identified to species level. Roadkill counts were stronglyinfluenced by road type and season. More roadkill was recorded on the paved than theunpaved roads. Irrespective of road type, the proportion of roadkill was greatest in thehot/wet season (4.3 paved roadkill/km/day paved and 1.3 roadkill/km/day unpaved) and lowestin the cold/dry season (2.0 roadkill/km/day paved and 0.1 roadkill/km/day unpaved). Thehigh numbers of vertebrates identified as roadkill suggests that road traffic has the potentialto directly and negatively affect biodiversity conservation in this part of South Africa. Werecommend continued roadkill data collection across South Africa to assist with creatingan inventory of species most likely to be at risk from roads. This will, in turn, better inform theimplementation of potential mitigation measures.
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