Wildlife Corridor Design for Animal Welfare

Wildlife corridors connecting fragmented habitats support the movement, behaviour and welfare of wide-ranging animals threatened by infrastructure and development.

Key Facts

Habitat fragmentation is cited as a leading cause of wildlife population decline globally
Road kills are a significant mortality source for many mammal, reptile and amphibian species
Underpasses, ecoducts and green bridges have been shown to reduce road mortality significantly
Otters, badgers, dormice and great crested newts benefit from specific crossing infrastructure in the UK
Wildlife corridor effectiveness depends on corridor width, vegetation structure and connectivity quality
Climate change increases the importance of corridors by allowing species range shifts

Welfare Considerations

Fragmented habitats force animals to cross dangerous roads and developed areas to meet basic needs for food, mates and territory, causing injury and death. Animals attempting to navigate fragmented landscapes experience chronic stress from repeated barrier encounters and resource scarcity. Well-designed wildlife corridors reduce road mortality, allow natural dispersal and enable animals to meet behavioural needs across adequate home ranges. The welfare benefits are direct and measurable. Incorporating wildlife crossing requirements in infrastructure planning is a cost-effective intervention for both population and individual welfare.

What You Can Do

Support Highways England and local council wildlife crossing projects in road development plans
Donate to wildlife charities designing and advocating for corridor infrastructure
Advocate for wildlife-sensitive planning requirements in local development plans
Drive carefully at dawn, dusk and night when wildlife crossing activity is highest
Create garden wildlife corridors through hedgehog highways and pond connections