Wildlife

Urban Wildlife Corridors and Animal Welfare

Wildlife corridors connecting green spaces within cities provide essential habitat for urban wildlife and reduce road collision deaths and stress from habitat fragmentation.

Key Facts

Urban areas cover just 3% of Earth's land surface but are home to thousands of wildlife species
Road collisions, predation by cats and dogs, and habitat loss are leading causes of urban wildlife death
Green corridors allow animals to move safely between habitat patches for feeding and breeding
Hedgehog highways and wildlife-friendly gardens form important micro-corridors in suburban areas
Urban heat islands can stress wildlife adapted to cooler conditions

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife living in urban environments faces chronic stressors including noise, light pollution, traffic, and human disturbance. Fragmented habitats prevent natural movement, causing animals to take risks crossing roads. Well-connected green spaces reduce these stressors by providing safe passage, shelter, and food resources. Even small actions like unlocking garden gates for hedgehogs or creating pond connections can meaningfully reduce animal suffering.

What You Can Do

Create a wildlife-friendly garden with native plants, a pond, and log piles
Make a hedgehog hole in your fence to allow passage between gardens
Reduce or redirect artificial lighting that can disorient nocturnal animals
Support local green corridor initiatives and urban nature reserves
Advocate for wildlife-sensitive urban planning in new developments