Road ecology blog: Railroad fence and underpasses along Trans-Mongolian railroad
Road ecology blog: Railroad fence and underpasses along Trans-Mongolian railroad.
The Trans-Mongolian railway connects Ulan-Ude along the Trans-Siberian railway in Russia with Jining in China. From there the railroad continues to Beijing. The Trans-Mongolian railroad is fenced. The fence is designed to keep livestock, including sheep and goats, off the railroad. The fenced railroad corridor is considered a very substantial barrier to large wild ungulates. However, some Mongolian gazelles do cross the fenced railroad corridor either at grade or through underpasses that are designed for livestock or hydrology. The fenced railroad corridor is an absolute barrier or nearly an absolute barrier for Asiatic wild ass (khulan) though. The railroad is not only a barrier but also a source of mortality for Mongolian gazelles. Some of the Mongolian gazelles that cross the fence get entangled in the fence and die. Other gazelles that are inside the fenced corridor when a train approaches are killed by trains directly. Click here for more images of the livestock fencing and underpasses for livestock and hydrology along the Trans-Mongolian railroad and spurs.
Click here for images of Mongolian gazelles.
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Image below: Railroad fence, spur of Trans-Mongolian Railway, Bagahangay, Töv, Mongolia.
Railroad fence, spur of Trans-Mongolian Railway, Bagahangay, Töv, Mongolia
Image below: Underpass for livestock and/or water along Trans-Mongolian Railway, between Choyr and Nalayh, Töv / Govisümber, Mongolia. These types of underpasses or not or barely used by wildlife. Large ungulates in open habitat seem to require wide open crossing structures with very gradual approaches and long sight distances. This particular underpass has a solid support wall in the middle which negatively affects the perceived width and openness of the structure. Structures that do not require support walls or columns are likely more suitable for wild ungulates.
Underpass for livestock and/or water along Trans-Mongolian Railway, between Choyr and Nalayh, Töv / Govisümber, Mongolia