Philippine E-Journals

Road mortality of freshwater turtles in Palawan, Philippines

Alejandro A Bernardo Jr.

 

Abstract:

The impact of road mortality on freshwater turtle populations on a global scale could be significant enough to cause the extinction of sensitive species. Essential data on roadkill abundance, composition, spatial patterns, and temporal distribution is needed for crafting mitigation strategies. To provide such information, a survey was conducted along the highway section (67 km) connecting Aborlan and Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Philippines. Collection of data was done four times a month from January 2010 to December 2015. A total of 127 road-killed turtles belonging to two species of the Geoemydidae family were recorded, 102 (80.3%) of which were classified as the Southeast Asian Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis) and 25 (19.7%) were identified as the Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata). The increase in road traffic noticed during the survey period possibly caused the corresponding increase in the roadkill counts 0f C. amboinensis, which is a more common species. Concurrently, the decline in the road-kill counts of C. dentata may indicate a severe drop in the population of this less common species. Roadside habitat types, time of the day, and presence of water bodies are found to be important predictors of road-killed turtles. High densities of road-killed turtles clustered in short segments of the road which identified as hotspots. Effective mitigating measures to curve down the impact of road mortality on turtle populations must be implemented and focusing the conservation strategies along the hotspots is considered an efficient and practical option.