On winding roads where mountainous terrain meets heavy traffic, a rustle in the brush at dusk can turn into a deadly collision within seconds. Roadkill incidents pose a constant hazard to wildlife and motorists across Korea, often resulting in severe property damage, human injuries and secondary pileups on high-speed thoroughfares. In a bid to prevent such incidents, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment on Wednesday will launch a pilot artificial intelligence (AI)-powered roadkill prevention system along National Route 17 in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province in central Korea. Conventional mitigation measures like eco-corridors, wildlife overpasses and fencing have reduced animal fatalities along long stretches of highway. However, intersections and entrance or exit ramps remain notoriously difficult to secure without blocking traffic or human access, leaving vulnerable gaps in eco-fencing networks. The new system bridges those gaps using smart surveillance. Closed-circuit television cameras continuously monitor roadside terrain. When an animal steps toward the road, AI algo