26 mins ago

Deforestation Fragments Forests, Wildlife Movement and Human Conflict

Forests are like large homes and roads for wild animals.

When people cut down forests, the remaining forest areas can become separated.

Animals then have less space to find food, mates and safe places to raise young.

Some animals must travel through farms, villages or towns.

This can cause dangerous encounters between people and wildlife.

Elephants in India and leopards near forest reserves are examples of animals changing where they move.

Conservationists build wildlife corridors to reconnect separated forests.

In Banff National Park, crossing structures have reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by more than 80 percent.

These connected routes help animals travel more safely.

Key facts

Forest-edge exposure: More than 70 percent of the world’s remaining forests are within one kilometre of a forest edge, according to a study published in Science.
Affected species: Examples include forest elephants, tigers and leopards.
Congo Basin: Commercial logging has removed parts of forest elephants’ traditional migration routes.
Human-wildlife conflict: Elephants in India may enter tea estates and villages, while leopards are increasingly seen in towns bordering forest reserves.
Banff crossings: Parks Canada reports that 44 wildlife crossing structures in Banff National Park reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions by more than 80 percent.
Wildlife corridors: Corridors connect fragmented forests and help animals cross human-made barriers such as motorways.

wionews.com · 26 mins ago