Along an 82-kilometre stretch of road in the heart of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), tiny lives are ending almost daily — from delicate nightjars to elusive chameleons — victims of speeding vehicles in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife havens.
A year-long investigation led by Dr Felix Mtega has revealed alarming levels of roadkills along the route from Lodoare Gate at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Crater to Golini, the entry gate to the Serengeti. Driving at low speed and surveying twice daily from dawn to dusk, researchers documented 85 dead animals from 26 species. Almost seven in every ten were birds, followed by mammals at nearly two in ten and reptiles making up the remainder.
Nightjars suffered the heaviest toll, representing over 30 per cent of all recorded deaths. Among mammals, black rats were the most frequent victims, while chameleons topped the reptile list. The study found that small-bodied animals — those hardest for drivers to see in time — made up more than 92 per cent of the kills. Woodland habitats saw the highest losses, followed by grassland and through shrubs.
Interestingly, the risk remained constant regardless of the season or time of day, suggesting that danger from traffic is ever-present. The Lodoare–Golini road is a lifeline for tourists, park staff and local communities transporting goods and livestock, but it also slices through a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in wildlife.
The researchers warn that this silent loss extends beyond individual species. Roadkills can shrink biodiversity, disrupt predator-prey dynamics and attract scavengers into harm’s way. “Our results highlight the urgent need to address road mortality, particularly for small species that are often overlooked in conservation planning,” the study notes.
To stem the losses, the team recommends enforcing strict speed limits, installing warning signs and road-monitoring cameras and launching public awareness campaigns for drivers. They also urge the construction of wildlife crossings and speed-calming measures in sensitive habitats
