A research project to understand the high mortality rate of giant anteaters and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on highways, thus achieving safer roads for animals and road users.
The giant anteater is an emblematic South American mammal, listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN. The native forests and vegetation of the Brazilian Cerrado are natural habitats for giant anteaters. However, in the last 35 years, more than half of this biome has been converted to pasture or agricultural land. In addition to these damages affecting the survival of the species, its remaining habitats are being fragmented and divided by the expansion of the road network.
Wildlife-vehicle collisions on highways are causing these animals a high number of unnatural deaths, and this includes the giant anteater, which is among the species that most often die when run over on highways in the Cerrado.
In addition to the impact on wildlife, wildlife-vehicle collisions can cause material, psychological, and physical damage to people, and may even cause death. In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, according to data from the Federal Highway Police (PRF), between 2007 and 2019, there were 614 collisions with animals that resulted in fatality or injury.
Therefore, through the Anteaters and Highways Project, we seek to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and thus achieve safer roads for all.
Understanding and quantifying the ecological impacts and sociological aspects related to wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil.
Objectives for this phase included quantifying the impact of roads on giant anteater populations and assessing their effect on species behavior, population structure, and health. The study included investigating how roads are affecting the persistence of the giant anteater population, whether they are acting as a gene flow barrier and reducing the density of this species. In addition, we investigated the perception of truck drivers about wildlife-vehicle collisions.
We will use the results and experience gained in Phase 1 of the Project, in addition to our network of partners and collaborators, to reduce the number of animals killed on the roads, as well as the damage to humans and vehicles. The giant anteater will continue to be the ambassador of this cause!
In Phase 2, we will seek to involve authorities, decision makers, road users (mainly truck drivers), truck companies, road workers, and society more generally. We will use a variety of tools to convey our message, including ecological modeling and analysis, evidence-based scientific communication, workshops, training, citizen science, certification guidelines, storytelling, as well as behavioral change. We aim to implement social, landscape, and road management actions to reduce the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions on the highways of Mato Grosso do Sul. We hope that these experiences will be shared and replicated throughout Brazil.
Moreover, we continue to monitor wildlife-vehicle collisions on the highways of Mato Grosso do Sul to better understand the impacts of highways on wildlife and thus predict where there is the greatest risk of accidents on roads.
Works in the areas of Conservation Biology, species research, and natural resource use ecology. Has worked and lived in Belize, Argentina, Bolivia…
Veterinarian graduated from the Universidade Paulista (2003), with experience in Wild Animal Medicine, Conservation Medicine, and postgraduate studies in clinical…
Veterinarian graduated from the University of São Paulo (2016), currently pursuing a master’s degree in Ecology and Conservation at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul…
Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of São Paulo (PROCAM-USP) with a sandwich period at Bangor University (Wales, UK). Certified by WildTeam (UK) in…
Educational Background: Bachelor and licensed in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, completed a master’s degree in Ecology at the same university…
Educational Background: Bachelor in Forestry Engineering from the University of São Paulo – Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, with a sandwich period at the…
Collaborator in the field of Road Ecology, responsible for analyzing roadkill patterns and spatial-temporal patterns of animal movements using GPS collars…
Founder of the Nobilis Association, with extensive experience in surveying, monitoring, and rescue of wildlife. Collaborates throughout the process of creating…
Graduated from the State University of Midwestern UNICENTRO, with a residency in Zoological Medicine from UFPR, working at Beto Carrero World Zoo….
Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of São Paulo (PROCAM-IEE/USP) and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management from the same university…
Graduated with a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of São Carlos. Holds a master’s degree in Ecology and Natural Resources and a Ph.D. in Sciences…
Professional Background: Specialist in Road Ecology and postdoc at the Smithsonian Conservation and Sustainability Center in Washington D.C. She is a co-owner of the…
Educational Background: Graduated in Economics from the University of Paris X and in Marketing & Management from the MBA program at Reims Business School…
Born in the interior of São Paulo, passionate about animals, photography, and videos, graduated in 2012 from the Dom Bosco Catholic University (UCDB). Since…
Bióloga, doutora em Ecologia Aplicada. Coordenadora do Laboratório de Ecologia, Manejo e Conservação de Fauna (LEMaC-USP), colabora com o projeto em estudos de modelagem de risco de atropelamentos e de distribuição de espécies.
Biologist, Ph.D. in Applied Ecology
Biólogo, doutor em Botânica. Com foco na pesquisa de impactos de infraestruturas lineares, coordena o Núcleo de Ecologia de Rodovias e Ferrovias (NERF-UFRGS). Andreas e sua equipe colaboram com o projeto na concepção e aprimoramento de pesquisas e ações.
Biologist, Ph.D. in Botany
Veterinária, mestre em Biotecnologia Animal. Doutoranda da Universidade Federal Fluminense, responsável pela avaliação reprodutiva dos tamanduás-bandeira machos capturados pelo projeto.
Veterinarian, Master’s in Biotechnology
Biólogo, mestre em Ecologia Aplicada. Doutorando da Universidade de São Paulo, seu foco de pesquisa é avaliar o impacto das rodovias na ocupação e densidade populacional de tamanduás-bandeira.
Biologist, Master’s in Applied Ecology
Veterinária, mestre em Saúde Animal. Analista Ambiental do Instituto Estadual de Florestas, coordenadora do Projeto TamanduASAS, atua em parceria com o nosso projeto nas pesquisas sobre soltura de tamanduás-bandeiras órfãos reabilitados.
Veterinarian, Master’s in Animal Health
Bióloga, Doutora em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais. Realizou a sexagem molecular, assim como a avaliação espaço-temporal de atropelamentos e diversidade genética em em tamanduás-bandeiras atropelados no Mato Grosso do Sul.
Biologist, Ph.D. in Ecology and Natural Resources
Bióloga, doutora em Biologia Animal. Trabalha com estudos focados em Ecologia e Comportamento animal. Colabora com o projeto em pesquisas sobre o comportamento de tamanduás reabilitados e de vida-livre.
Biologist, Ph.D. in Animal Biology
Biólogo, coordenador do Projeto Tatu Canastra Pantanal. Membro do Projeto Tatu-Canastra, com sua ampla experiência de campo, atua como colaborador do Projeto Bandeiras e Rodovias.
Biologist, Coordinator of the Giant Armadillo Project
Coordenado pela Profa. Dra. Paula Helena Santa Rita e com o auxílio do biólogo M.e Luiz Humberto Guimarães Riquelme Junior, é laboratório referência no Mato Grosso do Sul na criação e manutenção de répteis e anfíbios. Toda a equipe do Biotério UCDB colabora com o Projeto ministrando treinamentos de contenção e manejo de serpentes.
Saiba mais: https://site.ucdb.br/campus/3/
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