Effects of urbanization on wildlife

Effects of urbanization on wildlife

Urbanization is a persistent, global trend. Every year, millions of people move from rural people to urban areas, in the hope of better professional prospects, higher educational standards and more social opportunities. While this process has numerous advantages for us humans, it is a challenge for many wild animals. As a result, urbanization has far -reaching effects on the animal world - and rarely positive. In this article we deal with the consequences of the constantly increasing expansion of settlement and traffic areas on wild animals.

direct consequences of urbanization on wild animals

The immediate consequences of urban expansion for wild animals are diverse and often destructive.

loss of the habitat

The most serious effect of urbanization is the loss of habitats. Forests, meadows and wetlands are cleared or concreted to make room for residential and commercial areas. This leads to a drastic reduction in the living space of many animal species. For animals that need special habitats or have a limited living space, this can mean extinction at the local level.

fragmentation of habitats

The construction of streets, housing estates and industrial institutions often cuts coherent habitats. This fragmentation means that animal populations are isolated. The genetic diversity of these populations can be affected by inbreeding problems, and their survival ability drops.

human-animal conflicts

Where people and wild animals live together in a confined space, there are often conflicts. This is the case, especially for larger animal species such as bears, wolves or deer that are looking for food in urban areas. Such interactions often end tragically - both for the animals that are run over or killed out of fear, as well as for people who are injured or killed by animal attacks.

long -term effects of urbanization on wild animals

While the direct consequences of urbanization on wild animals are clearly visible, the long -term effects are somewhat more subtle, but no less important.

disruption of natural behavior

Urbanized areas often lead to strong changes in the natural behavior of the wild animals. The constant presence of people, their noise and the artificial lights can lead to considerable disorders in reproduction, nutrition and migration of animals.

Changes in the

Urbanization also has an impact on the food supply for wildlife. Urban areas can draw lush, albeit atypical food for some animals. It becomes problematic when animals become too dependent on human waste. This can lead to nutritional problems and increased mortality rate.

increased spread of diseases

In urban areas, especially those with low cleanliness, diseases spread quickly that can affect humans and animals alike. In addition, some animals can become pets or even humans to transfer wild animals.

adaptations of wild animals to urban habitats

However, it is not all negative. Some animal species have astonishingly adapted life in the city and benefit from the proximity to humans.

flexibility and the city as a habitat

Flexible and adaptable species such as pigeons, rats, foxes or different bird species can thrive in cities. They use buildings as nesting places, traffic islands as calm zones and trash cans as feed sources.

Promotion of biodiversity

Interestingly, urbanization can even promote biodiversity in the right context. Cities that preserve parks, green spaces and corridors for the animal world can accommodate a surprising variety of species. Urban green has the potential to present important places of retreat and habitats for wild animals in cities if it is properly managed.

conclusion: the way to sustainable urbanization

It cannot be denied that urbanization has dramatic effects on wild animals. However, it is also important to note that urbanization is an inevitable process. The key will be to find ways of how cities and wild animals can coexist. Sustainable urban planning, which takes into account the needs of the wildlife, is just as critical as the education and education of the population about the importance and value of the urban wildlife. The challenge is to reconcile human needs with those of nature. In this sense, it is important that urbanization does not necessarily mean the fall of the wild animals, but that it can be an opportunity for coexistence. It is up to us to go this way.