Wild animals embrace new highway underpasses

A study commissioned by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has found that wild animals are extensively utilizing the underpasses constructed along the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The research, conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India between May 16 and June 24, 2025, monitored the Ganeshpur-Dehradun stretch. This corridor features a network of wildlife crossings, including an 11-km stretch, designed to allow animal movement across the highway.

Over 40,444 wildlife detections were captured by 150 camera traps during the 40-day monitoring period. Species such as nilgai, elephants, jackals, hare, sambar, and spotted deer were observed early on, with later detections of leopards and rusty-spotted cats indicating behavioral adaptation. Nilgai, sambar, and golden jackals showed the highest usage frequencies, demonstrating the effectiveness of these structures for both ungulates and mid-sized mammals.

The study also noted significant human presence within the underpasses, with people, livestock, and vehicles often outnumbering wildlife. While spatial patterns of animal activity were uneven, with certain sections showing higher use, temporal analysis revealed that many species adjusted their activity to nocturnal periods to avoid human disturbance. Acoustic monitoring indicated that traffic noise can influence animal behavior and habitat use.