Conclusion
Taking into account the worldwide research on this subject, it is obvious that this
issue is very topical and requires further thorough investigation. The planned future
growth of railway transport associated with an increase in the probability of collisions with animals must be treated as a nationwide issue with the involvement of
the largest possible number of affected organizations, including government
administration, businesses farming on adjacent land, hunters, conservationists and
others.
Although it is very difficult and expensive to prevent animal mortality due to
collisions with road and railway transport, it is important to find solutions which
will at least minimize these accidents. Above all, we propose: evaluating the risks
associated with the environment more efficiently and accurately in the planned
projects within the decision-making process; providing feedback to individual
licensing procedures; paying close attention to management measures; and
focussing on technical measures in the riskiest sections.
Acknowledgements This chapter was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech
Republic Grant No. QJ1220314. Further, authors would like to thank the Faculty of Environmental
Sciences and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences
Prague for support during our research career.
References
Anděl, P., Gorčicová, I., Hlaváč, V., Miko, L., & Andělová, H. (2005). Assessment of landscape
fragmentation caused by traffic. Liberec: Evernia.
Anděl, P., Mináriková, T., & Andreas, M. (Eds.). (2010a). Protection of landscape connectivity for
large mammals. Liberec: Evernia.
Anděl, P., Petržílka, L., & Gorčicová, I. (2010b). Indikátory fragmentace krajiny. Liberec:
Evernia.
Andersen, R., Wiseth, B., Pedersen, P. H., & Jaren, J. (1991). Moose–train collisions: Effects of
environmental conditions. Alces, 27, 79–84.
Becker, E. F., & Grauvogel, C. A. (1991). Relationship of reduced train speed on moose-train
collisions in Alaska. Alces, 27, 161–168.
Benhaiem, S., Delon, M., Lourtet, B., Cargnelutti, B., Aulagnier, S., Hewison, A. J. M., et al.
(2008). Hunting increases vigilance levels in roe deer and modifies feeding site selection.
Animal Behaviour, 76, 611–618.
Binot-Hafke, M., Illmann, J., Schäfer, H. J., & Wolf, D. (Eds.). (2002). Nature data 2002. Bonn:
Bundesamt für Natruschutz.
Boscagli, G. (1985). Wolves, bears and highways in Italy: a short communication. In J. M. Bernard
(Eds.), Proceedings highways and wildlife relationships (pp. 237–239). Ministsre de
løÐquipement, du Logement, de løAmTnagement du Territoire et des Transports, Colmar,
France.
Bowman, J., Ray, J. C., Magoun, A. J., Johnson, D. S., & Dawson, F. N. (2010). Roads, logging,
and the large-mammal community of an eastern Canadian boreal forest. Canadian Journal of
Zoology, 88, 454–467.
15 Railway Ecology—Experiences and Examples in the Czech Republic
257
Taking into account the worldwide research on this subject, it is obvious that this
issue is very topical and requires further thorough investigation. The planned future
growth of railway transport associated with an increase in the probability of collisions with animals must be treated as a nationwide issue with the involvement of
the largest possible number of affected organizations, including government
administration, businesses farming on adjacent land, hunters, conservationists and
others.
Although it is very difficult and expensive to prevent animal mortality due to
collisions with road and railway transport, it is important to find solutions which
will at least minimize these accidents. Above all, we propose: evaluating the risks
associated with the environment more efficiently and accurately in the planned
projects within the decision-making process; providing feedback to individual
licensing procedures; paying close attention to management measures; and
focussing on technical measures in the riskiest sections.
Acknowledgements This chapter was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech
Republic Grant No. QJ1220314. Further, authors would like to thank the Faculty of Environmental
Sciences and the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences at the Czech University of Life Sciences
Prague for support during our research career.
References
Anděl, P., Gorčicová, I., Hlaváč, V., Miko, L., & Andělová, H. (2005). Assessment of landscape
fragmentation caused by traffic. Liberec: Evernia.
Anděl, P., Mináriková, T., & Andreas, M. (Eds.). (2010a). Protection of landscape connectivity for
large mammals. Liberec: Evernia.
Anděl, P., Petržílka, L., & Gorčicová, I. (2010b). Indikátory fragmentace krajiny. Liberec:
Evernia.
Andersen, R., Wiseth, B., Pedersen, P. H., & Jaren, J. (1991). Moose–train collisions: Effects of
environmental conditions. Alces, 27, 79–84.
Becker, E. F., & Grauvogel, C. A. (1991). Relationship of reduced train speed on moose-train
collisions in Alaska. Alces, 27, 161–168.
Benhaiem, S., Delon, M., Lourtet, B., Cargnelutti, B., Aulagnier, S., Hewison, A. J. M., et al.
(2008). Hunting increases vigilance levels in roe deer and modifies feeding site selection.
Animal Behaviour, 76, 611–618.
Binot-Hafke, M., Illmann, J., Schäfer, H. J., & Wolf, D. (Eds.). (2002). Nature data 2002. Bonn:
Bundesamt für Natruschutz.
Boscagli, G. (1985). Wolves, bears and highways in Italy: a short communication. In J. M. Bernard
(Eds.), Proceedings highways and wildlife relationships (pp. 237–239). Ministsre de
løÐquipement, du Logement, de løAmTnagement du Territoire et des Transports, Colmar,
France.
Bowman, J., Ray, J. C., Magoun, A. J., Johnson, D. S., & Dawson, F. N. (2010). Roads, logging,
and the large-mammal community of an eastern Canadian boreal forest. Canadian Journal of
Zoology, 88, 454–467.
15 Railway Ecology—Experiences and Examples in the Czech Republic
257