Observation Guidelines
Official reporting rules and eligibility criteria for the India Roadkill Monitoring Project citizen science program.
Definition of a Wildlife Roadkill
A roadkill is defined as any wild vertebrate (mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian) found dead or fatally injured on or immediately adjacent to a road or railway track, where the death or injury is directly attributable to a collision with a motor vehicle or train.
What Qualifies
- Wild Fauna Only: Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Domestic animals and livestock are strictly excluded.
- Vehicle Collision: Death or fatal injury must result from a motor vehicle or train impact.
- Location Proximity: Found on asphalt lane, road shoulder, median, verge, or railway tracks.
- Fresh & Old Remains: Fresh carcasses, decomposed remains, skeletal parts, or flattened specimens.
- All Life Stages: Adults, sub-adults, juveniles, nestlings, and hatchlings.
What Does NOT Qualify
- Animals that died from natural causes, disease, or old age beside a roadway.
- Poached, hunted, or trapped wildlife dumped near a highway.
- Predator kills dragged onto road surfaces after consumption.
- Domestic pets, dogs, cats, cows, goats, or livestock.
- Carcasses transported from another location for municipal disposal.
- Injuries caused by electrical power lines, glass windows, or non-vehicle structures.
How to Submit a Report
1
Download App
Get the free India Roadkill Monitoring app from Google Play or the App Store.
2
Locate & Photograph
Safely photograph the animal and immediate surroundings. Note any road signs nearby.
3
Submit Report
Upload your geotagged photo with species name (if known), date, and any additional notes.
4
Await Verification
Your submission is reviewed by experts and added to the live hotspot database.