Dr Thabo Hlatshwayo’s PhD in Ecological Sciences explored how roads reshape wildlife movement and habitats in fragmented landscapes.
By analysing roadkill patterns, animal use of road infrastructure and transport development policies, his research highlights the urgent need to integrate wildlife needs and ecological connectivity into transportation planning.
Hlatshwayo’s love of the environment was nurtured during his upbringing in the village of Gutshwa in Mpumalanga, near the Kruger National Park. He enjoyed hiking in the Phatfwa Mountains, finding peace and connection with nature, and had a close bond with his pet dogs, Lappies and Mdu, whom he walked along rivers and floodplains. Creating temporary ponds in his garden, he became fascinated by amphibians and their life cycles, unknowingly practising conservation ecology in his backyard.
At Sibhulo Secondary School in White River, he was encouraged to study further but had little guidance on career options. A career guidance session with the Mpumalanga Department of Education reassured him that he met the requirements to pursue environmental sciences, which he studied at the University of Venda, continuing through to a master’s degree.
With rapid infrastructure development threatening ecosystems, his PhD aimed to generate information that can guide sustainable development to balance biodiversity conservation and infrastructure growth. He gathered wildlife roadkill data, monitored animal use of road drainage culverts, and analysed transport policies. His research showed that wildlife loss from vehicle collisions is a significant biodiversity challenge in South Africa, yet research and monitoring remain limited. While policies mention green transport infrastructure, there are no requirements for the transport industry to account for biodiversity loss or wildlife mobility.
Encouragingly, Hlatshwayo found that some animals use road drainage culverts to cross the N4 national highway. He recommended retrofitting these structures by widening them and installing roadside funnelling fencing in sensitive areas to improve habitat connectivity and safety. His work emphasises that wildlife mobility must be considered if South Africa is to implement effective green road infrastructure.
Collaboration was central to his success. Working with his supervisors in the Downs Laboratory at UKZN, as well as the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) and Trans African Concessions (TRAC), helped him manage challenges such as securing equipment, conducting long hours of fieldwork, and balancing thesis writing, conferences and meetings. He assisted the EWT’s Transport and Wildlife Project by coordinating road ecology research, facilitating training for route patrol teams, developing a national roadkill database, and implementing mitigation measures in hotspots.
Motivated by the support of mentors and colleagues, Hlatshwayo treated his PhD like a full-time job, setting targets and maintaining discipline. He is now employed as a Senior Field Officer in the EWT’s Infrastructure and Biodiversity Unit, continuing research on wildlife and infrastructure, biodiversity monitoring and field surveys. He plans to maintain a strong research record as the most effective way to address infrastructure-related biodiversity challenges.
Hlatshwayo thanked God; and his supervisors: Professor Colleen Downs for her guidance and Dr Manqoba Zungu for recognising his potential, and Mrs Wendy Collinson-Jonker for her mentorship.
He acknowledged funding and support from the National Research Foundation, the Rufford Foundation, and TRAC, which also provided bursary and travel support for him to present at conferences in Kenya and the Czech Republic, and also thanked the Ford Wildlife Foundation for the vehicles provided to the EWT’s Transport and Wildlife Project, and the EWT for logistical support and opportunities.
He was grateful to his family and friends for their unwavering support, especially his mother and grandmother. The death of his grandmother just days before his thesis submission was a deep loss, and he dedicated his PhD to her memory.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photograph: Albert Hirasen and supplied