A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road: New Thinking about Roads, People, and Wildlife

by Darryl Jones

A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road is an eye-opening introduction to the ecological impacts of roads. Drawing on over ten years of active engagement in the field of road ecology, Darryl Jones sheds light on the challenges roads pose to wildlife―and the solutions taken to address them. One of the most ubiquitous indicators of human activity, roads typically promise development and prosperity. Yet they carry with them the threat of disruption to both human and animal lives. Jones surveys the myriad, innovative ways stakeholders across the world have sought to reduce animal-vehicle collisions and minimize road-crossing risks for wildlife, including efforts undertaken at the famed fauna overpasses of Banff National Park, the Singapore Eco-Link, "tunnels of love" in the Australian Alps, and others. Along the way, he acquaints readers with concepts and research in road ecology, describing the field's origins and future directions. Engaging and accessible, A Clouded Leopard in the Middle of the Road brings to the foreground an often-overlooked facet of humanity's footprint on earth.

Genres: Nature, Science

272 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2022

About the author

This article (Darryl^Jones) is for the Australian ecologist.
For the children's author see Darryl^^Jones.
For the English literature professor, see Darryl^^^Jones.

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a koala peacefully ambling across an overpass in Australia, the author takes us through contrasting roads. He shows us a dirt track through a rainforest in Borneo; a year later, the tarmac highway with wide cleared roadsides had removed any possibility that a clouded leopard would again stand in the road.

Whether a moose, camel or kangaroo, large animals colliding with vehicles tends to end badly for all concerned. But smaller animals such as the Tasmanian devils collared and monitored in a study are just wiped out when a road is resurfaced; the explanation is the added speed of vehicles.

Overpasses and underpasses are being designed with ecologists, and we are shown some structures in various stages of newness and later use. The photos are excellent. Even a rope ladder up on poles can help animals adapted to use it.

Wildlife crosses roads for many reasons. One is to find food, shelter or safety. Another is to find a mate. Fragmented populations means the isolation of DNA in 'island' groups and the gradual inbreeding that can make a population unviable. Adapting a road, the Hume Freeway, to help gliders cross, and comparing it with a farm track, the scientists learned that while more gliders used the new safe crossing than had attempted the journey previously, the farm track crossing was still greatly more used. They ascribed this to the heavy traffic, including goods vehicles, day and night on the major road. Continued studies were needed. A camera trap appeared to show many underpass crossings by koalas, but these surprisingly turned out to be many crossings by one male koala. Finding which animals used the cross points, and which did not, was essential. Another example given is Banff, as the Trans-Canada Highway is crossed by more fauna corridors than are in most countries. Finally we are told how a culverted river was opened to the sky again, and the life that returned with the water.


I found this a fascinating book which will be read and enjoyed - apart from the casualty numbers, deforestation and other environmental issues - by ecologists, surveyors, land managers and zoologists. People can and should make a difference, where humans have altered the habitat. Also, this work makes roads safer for people, and reduces insurance claims. I don't like the cover, which is boring and has no relation to ecology. An overpass would have been better.

In my e-ARC the Appendix begins on p. 219, listing species in the text, sugar gliders to sun bears. Notes are not given after chapters but start on p. 223. References p. 233 - 240.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I had some difficulty assigned a rating to this book. On the one hand, it’s quite thoroughly research, well supported, and written by an obvious expert in the field. There are many real world narratives of fragmentation issues and solutions, many of which are first hand experiences. Throughout, iconic wildlife is at the forefront, but many lesser known — yet equally (if not more) important — species are included as well. Personally I found the kiwi chapter quite endearing, but perhaps that’s my own personal appreciation of the birds.

On the other hand, I can’t help but feel it got fairly repetitive. Anecdote after anecdote merely followed a similar pattern of: 1. These animals are being killed already. 2. The local department of transit wants to expand a road. 3. Local grassroots efforts fight back. 4. Miraculously everyone gets along and overpasses, culverts, underpasses, and ecoducts are installed. Perhaps I found the kiwi chapter (near the end) so interesting because it was decently different, this chapter, diverting animals wasn’t the goal, reigning in drivers was the goal. There was also one place where two figures seemed swapped (figures 27 and 28, although being an advance copy I can hope it’s fixed before the final).

I fear in the end the book falls in between two audiences, a general public with an interest in the environment, and an informed scientific audience with a personal or professional interest. Perhaps a bit too dry/dense for a less informed reader, but not technical enough to be of tangible use to research (although the author does point out several examples of that kind of book). Overall I lean towards a 3.5/5 or so, I’ll round up to a 4 given the obvious importance of the topic and the clear research given.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great. Much like other books on the topic of road ecology, Jones outlines the ecological impacts of road barriers and the benefits of implementing crossing structures to mend fragmented habitats and reunite otherwise isolated populations. What he also included in his book was the human element and he did so in a way that other books on this topic have not done or have not explored to this level of detail. Specifically he described, in detail, the decision making processes and major players involved in making these crossing structures a reality. Not just the positives elements of those interactions but the hurdles and setbacks as well. To me this was an important issue to include if for no other reason than to bring attention to the challenges these projects face on the way to fruition, and the connections and establishment of trust and mutual respect that can result from collaborations of entities that, at the outset, might seem adversarial in their priorities. I’d recommend this book more for an audience with a wildlife conservation background as opposed to the layperson but anyone interested in the topic will turn the last page with an increased understanding of the positive impact that results from endeavoring to consider the big picture footprint of ecologically emphatic infrastructure.