It was a misty morning in Haputale on mid-February and Prof. Kapila Dissanaike was passing the Thangamale stretch when he spotted an animal lying lifeless on the side of road. Prof. Dissanaike had seen numerous roadkills while driving, but the soft goldenness of the bushy tail of this animal grabbed his attention, so he stopped the vehicle and walked to inspect the carcass.

“I was saddened to find that it was a golden palm civet, an endemic and threatened species in Sri Lanka”, Prof. Dissanaike told the Sunday Times. This civet is an elusive, nocturnal mammal. Recognised for its golden-brown fur and arboreal habits, it is often a victim of road accidents.

This unfortunate event is just one among many that claim the lives of Sri Lanka’s wildlife, including threatened and endemic species. As the country’s road network expands, and the road conditions become better allowing drivers to speed, wildlife roadkill is becoming an increasingly pressing conservation issue- worldwide claiming billions of lives.

To read the full story visit https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250302/news/roadkills-a-pressing-wildlife-concern-589396.html

Picture credit: Sunday Times