NANJING—A groundbreaking scientific forum convened this month at Nanjing University has revealed the extensive impact of vehicular traffic on urban wildlife populations across China. The Forum on Road Safety and Wildlife Conservation, held December 14 at the university’s Xianlin campus, brought together over 60 representatives from 19 academic institutions and environmental organizations to address the growing crisis of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
The gathering marked the culmination of pioneering research led by Professor Li Zhongqiu of Nanjing University’s School of Life Sciences, whose work has catalyzed China’s first systematic study of urban roadkill. The research initiative began unexpectedly in 2020 when Professor Li witnessed the tragic death of a Siberian weasel near campus—an event that exposed the widespread yet undocumented phenomenon of wildlife fatalities on urban roadways.
Recognizing the critical data gap, Professor Li’s team launched a comprehensive survey in 2021 that has since evolved into a nationwide citizen science project. Through a specially designed WeChat mini-program, the initiative has collected more than 8,000 verified roadkill reports from over 2,000 contributors across China, providing unprecedented insights into urban biodiversity impacts.
Scientific analysis of this data enables researchers to monitor population trends, identify vulnerable species, and develop targeted conservation strategies. The research highlights the urgent need for infrastructure adaptations including wildlife crossings, specialized fencing, and habitat corridors to reduce animal-vehicle collisions.
The forum participants emphasized that roadkill data serves as both an ecological indicator and a policy tool, providing evidence-based recommendations for urban planning and transportation design. This collaborative approach between academic institutions and public participants represents a innovative model for environmental research in densely populated regions.