The accident happened at night, when a driver did not see Schwartz appear on the highway. The impact was so strong that Schwartz’s tracking collar broke, resulting in a loss of signal. An anteater collapsed on the highway. Photo: Guardian. According to the researchers, the beast trudged off the highway until it collapsed dead. But they could not find the body of this animal. Schwartz is just one of thousands of wild animals that are stabbed to death each year on the BR-262 highway in Brazil, according to reports. Guardian . The route was built in the 1960s, when safety regulations were not established. BR-262 also cuts through the habitat of many wildlife species, leading to many serious impacts on the environment. Now, activists have joined a class-action lawsuit, forcing Brazilian authorities to recognize how dangerous the highway is. Highway of death BR-262 stretches east-west, passing through the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. The route also cuts through the Atlantic forest, the Cerrado savanna and the Pantanal wetlands. The deadliest stretch of road stretches for nearly 300 kilometers, running through the cities of Aquidauana and Corumbá, lined with trucks and metal mining vehicles. According to research from the University of Mato Grosso do Sul, every year more than 3,000 wild animals are stabbed to death on this stretch of road. An anteater collapsed on the highway. Photo: Guardian. In 2020, the Pantanal region experienced a severe drought. Biologist Gustavo Figueirôa explains: “When the river level is low, mining companies have to transport by road.” Drought has also caused fires to increase, forcing many species to leave their habitats. When they suddenly cross the highway, drivers easily lose visibility and cause a collision. Environmental and infrastructure agencies are working together to improve old roads like the BR-262. Their goal is to minimize their impact on the natural environment. But this task is not easy, especially when many large animals often appear on the highway. According to biologist Fernanda Abra, some sections of the road of BR-262 have been fenced, but this measure has not worked. “The fence is very low,” Ms. Abra said. Animals can break, climb or jump over.” Class action lawsuit Fernanda Abra, co-founder of environmental consulting firm ViaFauna, began tracking animal stabbings on the BR-262 in 2018. That’s when Abra learned of the class action lawsuit against the Department of Facilities. National Transportation Infrastructure (DNIT). The lawsuit, initiated by many activists, asks the DNIT to come up with more effective measures to protect wildlife in the area. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Mato Grosso do Sul, DNIT has taken measures such as installing speedometers or installing signs. But these efforts have not resulted in improvement. The Prosecutor’s Office said DNIT is prioritizing the installation of fences and safe passages specifically for animals. Luiz Guilherme Rodrigues de Mello, head of DNIT, said the ministry understands the problems with the BR-262 motorway. But the class action is a wake-up call, forcing them to turn their thoughts into actions. “Fortunately, the Prosecutor’s Office helped us realize a critical situation. And we need to look at how we can do better,” said Luiz Guilherme Rodrigues de Mello. After the lawsuit, DNIT signed a contract with ViaFauna to monitor the highway for one year. Co-founder Fernanda Abra said ViaFauna will release a report in December 2021 or January 2022. In particular, the company offers many specific measures for the problem of stabbing animals to death on the BR-262 highway. An anteater in its natural habitat. Photo: Guardian. Ms. Abra and many experts want people to understand that collisions can be dangerous to both wildlife and people. In addition, these accidents also cause significant damage to infrastructure. According to a study by Ms. Abra, each year the state of São Paulo records about 3,000 collisions caused by wildlife. These incidents killed 22 people and cost about 10.6 million USD to the state budget. Another study, also conducted by Ms. Abra and the Highway Project, concluded the average cost per wildlife collision is around $885. The team believes that finding a solution will prevent the number of accidents and reduce the cost of damage. Crocodiles roam the streets after the blockade order in the US After the blockade order in the US, many streets were deserted, only a few wild animals roamed.

A new species of pumpkin toad has been discovered in Brazil. Researchers have uncovered a new species of pumpkin toad that is orange in color, fluorescence glow in the dark and is as small as 1 cm in size in Brazil’s Atlantic forest. This amphibian, Brachycephalus rotenbergae, is a relative of at least 36 species of pumpkin toad, named after the pumpkin popular for Halloween. Like the venom-releasing frog, the pumpkin toad’s vibrant color signals predators that their skin carries a toxin that can be lethal. This new species of pumpkin toad was recently described in the journal Plos One . They were found in extensive research efforts across Brazil to find new pumpkin toads. The identification of the organisms is crucial to the country’s biodiversity conservation, especially in areas with as many species as the Atlantic forest, where 93% of its area is lost, experts say. Initial cover due to deforestation and agricultural development. A small pumpkin toad crawls past the bright orange mushroom, which is a common feature of their habitat. Brazil has the highest number of amphibian species in the world, at least one thousand species. But amphibians worldwide are among the most vulnerable groups of vertebrates, especially when it comes to climate change. Lead researcher Professor Ivan Sergio Nunes Silva, scientist at São Paulo State University, said: “As a scientist, the happiest moment is when you see something new and you are the only one. best know. But unfortunately, today, we are losing undetermined species faster than the rate at which new species are described. Interesting story about new toads Images of the newly discovered pumpkin toad. Photo: Plos One. Professor Nunes and his team found the pumpkin toad B. rotenbergae through 76 field surveys between 2018 and 2019 in the Mantiqueira Mountains 2,132 meters above sea level. They spent hours wandering the cliffs and streams flowing through the forest. Most pumpkin toad species are quite similar. They are particularly tiny frogs, among the smallest in the world with a length of just over a centimeter and often have bright, tangerine skin that secretes a powerful nerve agent. Back in the lab, the team took DNA samples from 71 toads and compared them with samples of known pumpkin toads. They also analyze their physical characteristics, bone structure, behavior and record their mating calls to determine that this is a new species. The new pumpkin toad, for example, is smaller than other known toads, with a smaller snout. Other unusual features include black, matte patterns on the skin and a preference for living at higher altitudes in the Atlantic forest. The creatures cannot hear the sound of their calls because their ears are not yet developed, Nunes said. “Their communication is basically visual, because these toads can communicate by opening their mouths,” he added. In particular, it is a mystery that B. rotenbergae has bone fragments on its skull and back that fluoresce and can glow through the skin under ultraviolet light, a wavelength that they can see, But humans are not. Only two other pumpkin toad species are known to emit fluorescence, Nunes added. He doesn’t know what fluorescent bones are used for, but they might play a role in communication. This species has patches of bones on its skull and back that glow green through the skin under UV rays. Photo: Plos One. There is much more work to be done Professor Michel Varajao Garey, of the Latin American Institute of Natural Sciences and Life (ILACVN), said Professor Nunes and colleagues’ approach is comprehensive. Such a thorough approach could “reveal unknown diversity” and possibly reclassify some mislabeled species. In fact, up until this study, the authors say, B. rotenbergae was misclassified as B. ephippium because it looked so similar. The number of new species is unknown, but Nunes and his colleagues hope to conduct more surveys to find out where it lives, as well as look for more pumpkin toad species. Most of the rest of the Atlantic forest are protected in nature reserves, but these areas are still threatened by deforestation, climate change, and land use change. Although deforestation rates are declining in Brazil, more than 28,000 acres of forest land were cleared in 2018. Professor Nunes hopes the discovery will inspire governments and organizations to better take care of their resources, including closely monitoring endangered species. “Nature is only stable if it’s complex enough,” says Professor Nunes. This shows that biodiversity is paramount for a country as large as Brazil. “