The Covid-19 pandemic induced strict lockdowns across the world in 2020, leading to a significant reduction in human mobility and vehicular traffic. This “anthropause” period provided a unique opportunity for researchers to study the impact of human activities on animal movement. A new study published in the journal Science reveals that some wild mammals changed their movement behaviour in response to the decrease in human activity. Leveraging GPS tracking data from 76 studies, scientists evaluated the behaviour of 2,300 individual mammals representing 43 species from around the world during the initial 2020 lockdown period and compared it with the same period in 2019. The results show that animals in locations with stricter Covid-19 lockdown policies traveled 73% farther than the previous year, suggesting that most animals explored more of the landscape when vehicle movement was reduced during the lockdowns. The study also found that animals in populated human areas traveled closer to roadways during lockdowns, potentially because they were less fearful of the road traffic or human presence in these regions. The findings provide crucial insights into how human activities constrain animal movement and how animals react when these activities cease. Future conservation strategies can utilize this information to improve human-wildlife coexistence.
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Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
