Wildlife Corridors and Habitat Connectivity for Animal Welfare

Wildlife corridors reconnect fragmented habitats, enabling animal movement, reducing road mortality, and supporting natural behaviour across landscapes.

Key Facts

Habitat fragmentation affects over 70 percent of the world's remaining forest areas
Wildlife crossing structures have been built over or under roads in over 40 countries
The Banff wildlife crossings in Canada have reduced vehicle collisions with large mammals by 80 percent
Connectivity allows genetic exchange, seasonal migration, and access to seasonal food resources
Corridor design requires knowledge of the movement ecology of target species
The Yellowstone to Yukon Initiative aims to connect habitats across 3,200 kilometres of North American landscape

Welfare Considerations

Habitat fragmentation forces animals to cross roads, exposing them to vehicle strike and isolating populations in fragments too small to meet their needs. Road mortality kills billions of animals annually worldwide. Wildlife crossings and habitat corridors directly improve welfare by enabling safe movement, reducing starvation from resource isolation, and allowing natural social and reproductive behaviours.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife crossing projects in your region through advocacy and donations
Advocate for wildlife-friendly road design in infrastructure planning consultations
Reduce driving speed in wildlife-sensitive areas and stay alert for crossing animals
Support land trusts and conservation organisations that protect and connect habitat
Engage with landscape-scale conservation initiatives that prioritise connectivity