🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Wildlife overpasses and underpasses have reduced large mammal road mortality in several countries.
Infrastructure expansion proposals in Sumatra have included highway routes near or through forested regions containing tiger habitat. Large road projects increase accessibility, traffic, and edge effects. For wide-ranging carnivores, highways act as both physical and behavioral barriers. Environmental impact assessments attempt to mitigate harm through wildlife crossings or rerouting. However, mitigation effectiveness depends on enforcement and design quality. In critically endangered populations, incremental disturbance can carry outsized risk. Development planning thus intersects directly with predator survival. Each blueprint redraws ecological boundaries.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Highways stimulate economic growth but fragment landscapes. Incorporating wildlife corridors into design can reduce mortality and isolation. Political and financial considerations influence route selection. International lending institutions increasingly require environmental safeguards. Balancing connectivity with conservation remains contentious.
For the tiger, a highway represents noise, light, and risk. Dispersing juveniles may encounter asphalt instead of forest canopy. Vehicle collisions add new mortality sources. The predator’s future depends partly on engineering decisions made far from the forest floor. Development strategy now influences extinction probability.
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