Tasmanian Devil Roadkill Mortality

Roadkill is a significant threat to the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Research estimates:

• A 2018 Ecology and Evolution study estimated ~1,000 devils killed annually on Tasmanian roads (2001–2016 data).
• A 2019 Australian Mammalogy study found roadkill accounted for ~12.5% of adult female and 10% of adult male annual mortality in the Central Highlands.

Numbers vary by region, traffic volume, and season. Mitigation measures include warning signs, reduced speed zones, wildlife underpasses, and fencing. Conservation programs (e.g., Save the Tasmanian Devil Program) monitor and address this threat alongside Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).