Tasmania, the roadkill capital of the world 🦘 | ABC Australia

Tasmania has long held the unenviable title of "the roadkill capital of Australia", with an estimated 500,000 native animals dying on the state's roads every year — about one per head of population.

'You could argue we're almost the roadkill capital of the world' says Greg Irons about Tasmania. Do you agree? If so, what action should we take?

Produced by:

Sarah Abbott

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Transcript:

Tasmania has unfortunately got this beautiful clean green image

which is tarnished very badly by the roadkill issue that we have here.

I think growing up in Tasmania you just see so much roadkill

and I guess it just becomes a part of everyday life but for me personally,

it's the odd time I get away from here

and just see a total lack of roadkill that I'm absolutely shocked.

We don't know the exact figures but the estimate is it could be anywhere from

250,000 to 500,000 animals killed every year on our roads

So the problem is massive. I mean, you could argue we're almost the roadkill capital of the world.

Bennets wallabies Tasmanian Patty Melons, Brush Tail possums,

Ringtail possums, animals like wombats, echidnas that dawdle across the road at the pace of a snail.

Because they can't really do anything quickly.

Lots of different bird species.

Really, it's just an endless and endless list of animals.

Working at a place like Bonorong you know we I guess see the aftermath.

We see the animals with things in all sorts of places they shouldn't be and breaks and internal injuries.

And you know I honestly believe if people just worked with us for a week and saw the things that we see

their whole attitudes will change because no animal no matter what it is

should go through what some of these animals go through.

The main reason we have so much roadkill here is the sheer amount of wildlife that we have,

you know, you drive 15 minutes outside of our capital city Hobart and you're going to see wildlife

all over the place. Even in the middle of Hobart, we say wildlife,

but does that mean we should say okay, well, we've got heaps here so it's not such a problem.

No, quite the opposite.

People are coming to Tasmania to see our amazing wilderness and they're coming here to see our wildlife

and you know, that should be our driver to say, let's slow down and try to not hit as many animals on our roads.

I think the number one thing for Tasmanians is to not accept roadkill is just something that happens here.

You know, I think we all need to take individual responsibility for wildlife on our roads.

I think far too often everyone's pointing at other people and saying, well, there should be more road signs or the government should be doing something

or you know, others should be doing something it's it's up to us as individuals.

You can hear 101 things about putting whizzes on your car or making sure that you honk your horn at certain times.

But the fact is being aware number one and number two, just simply slowing down.

That is the best way that we can reduce roadkill.

If we can just leave five or 10 minutes earlier on a drive up if we're driving at night time

or even better plan to drive before dusk and dawn before these animals are out and about.

You know if everyone just does a little bit we can see not just a few lives saved but thousands upon thousands of lives saved.