ANÁLISE DA FAUNA SILVESTRE DE VERTEBRADOS ATROPELADA EM RODOVIAS NO SUDOESTE DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO

The road network of the state of São Paulo is among the most extensive in Brazil, with 21,929 accidents involving wildlife collisions recorded between 2010 and 2024. In this context, the present study aimed to identify and quantify the wildlife vertebrate fauna killed in the Southwest of the state of São Paulo. Two weekly monitoring sessions were conducted from May to November 2023, covering an extent of 20 km traveled during the morning period by two people. A total of 142 carcasses were recorded, with an average of 0.057 roadkills per kilometer traveled, with September showing the highest number of specimens registered (n = 32). The class with the highest roadkill incidence was Birds (38.06%, n = 54). The daily rate (0.114 ind./km/day) and annual rate (41.61 ind./km/year) of roadkill were higher than rates reported in recent studies. Amphibians (42.10%) and Birds (35.19%) occurred more frequently in agricultural areas, Mammals (48.65%) in forest formation areas, and reptiles in forest formation and pasture areas, both at 33.33%. The present study showed that the roadkill rate of vertebrates was higher than in other studies for the state of São Paulo, as well as for other regions of the country, and indicated the species most vulnerable to collisions at this intersection of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. Furthermore, it was recommended implementing minimum measures at the points with the greatest impacts on wildlife, especially in forest formation areas, such as signage, speed reducers, wildlife passages, in addition to environmental awareness campaigns to prevent roadkills.