It’s not too late to reverse a disastrous trend.
UQ/Matthew Luskin
With reduced access to food and danger from both hunting and habitat destruction, large animals are being pushed to smaller and more isolated habitats.
UQ/Matthew Luskin
But a new study shows that with appropriate distance from humans, unexpected animals may return to areas right on our doorsteps.
Researchers from the University of Queensland looked at the 14 largest species in tropical forests throughout Southeast Asia, comparing modern populations with historical numbers.
Their research, published in Science Advances, found that areas with the most deforestation saw the steepest decline in animal populations. The four areas in the study with the most human activity saw two-and-a-half times more animal displacement than the six with the least amount of human activity.
UQ/Matthew Luskin
Tigers, elephants, wild boars, and clouded leopards actually had larger populations in areas with more human development.
UQ/Matthew Luskin
That doesn’t mean human development is a good thing for wild animals. Researchers say the strange trend results from “a convoluted geo-climatic legacy interacting with modern disturbances.”
the picture is much more complicated. Efforts to curb poaching and restore forests are often strongest in national parks near human settlements, and that’s exactly where researchers saw increased animal populations.
The study doesn’t present a universal trend. In fact, researchers found a different mix of animal species in every forest they studied. That makes it hard to form a conservation strategy that’s beneficial overall.
UQ/Matthew Luskin
So living near humans isn’t necessarily good for animals, but the researchers suggest the data can help us be better neighbors.