Terrestrial mammal and reptile hazards in an airport in the Brazilian Amazon

Collisions between animals and aircrafts, usually known as wildlife strikes, are a concern for flight safety specialists all over the world. An estimated $1.2 billion in civil aviation losses worldwide have been linked to these events annually (Allan 2002). Wildlife strikes have also been responsible for the destruction of over 500 aircraft and the loss of 505 human lives between 1960 and 2004 (Cleary et al. 2006). Researchers estimate that 97% of wildlife strikes to aircraft occur with bird species, though terrestrial mammals and reptiles can pose a significant risk due to their size and weight (Dolbeer et al. 2000, DeVault et al. 2011, Biondi et al. 2011, Crain et al. 2015). Most collisions with terrestrial mammals occur inside the airport, usually with species that normally benefit from buildings, airport structures, or the local environment. In 2010, 10 Brazilian airports, including MAO, implemented a wildlife management program called Fauna in Brazilian Airports.