Taiwan installs 340 meters of fencing to protect pangolins from roadkill

In Taiwan's Changhua County, a critical measure has been implemented to protect the island's native pangolins from the dangers of road traffic. The Highway Bureau's Changhua Works Section has erected 340 meters of protective fencing along the Dong Waihuan Road in Huatan Township, a known pangolin habitat.

The initiative comes after two pangolins were killed on this stretch of road within the past two years. The latest incident, in February 2025, saw a pangolin tragically killed with its eyes burst open, a stark reminder of the risks faced by the species.

Conservationists have been urging local authorities to take action, emphasizing the pangolin's status as Taiwan's only native wild cat. Historically widespread, the species is now primarily found in Miaoli, Taichung, Nantou, and Changhua, with the latter's mountainous areas and the banks of the Zhuoshui and Maoluo rivers being key habitats. The Dong Waihuan Road, with its high traffic volume, has unfortunately become a dangerous crossing point.

The new fencing aims to prevent pangolins from attempting to cross the road, thereby reducing the risk of fatal collisions. This effort is part of a broader conservation strategy to mitigate the impact of human development on wildlife, particularly for species like the pangolin that are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and roadkill.

“

The Dong Waihuan Road has heavy traffic, and there have been multiple accidents involving water deer running out from the mountains and crossing the road, resulting in deaths and injuries. The two pangolin roadkills in 2024 at the 8k section were also due to them crossing the Dong Waihuan Road and being hit by vehicles.