Wildlife retakes streets during Covid-19 pandemic

Kruger National Park has been closed since March 25 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. On April 16, ranger Richard Sowry captured a pride of lions sleeping soundly on the road, right near the resort of Kruger National Park (South Africa).

According to employee Isaac Phaala, these lions often hide in the bushes. “They are very smart. When they don’t see people, they will immediately take over the dry roads,” Phaala explained.

Recently, a group of golfers in Kruger National Park also captured the moment a lion chased a hyena on the golf course grass.

Previously, many images from around the world also showed that wild animals are "taking advantage" to explore the streets while people stay at home to fight the epidemic. However, these rare outings are not without risks.

After Yosemite National Park in California (USA) closed on March 20 during the Covid-19 lockdown, the wild animals here are quite comfortable enjoying a relaxing time without humans. It is still unclear when Yosemite National Park will reopen to visitors.

Since March 11, Israel has been implementing social distancing and closing many public places to limit the spread of Covid-19. The entire country has been shut down, and wild animals have seized the opportunity to flood into the city to find food.

Many wild animals are also roaming the cities and towns of France, according to Romain Julliard, head of research at the French Museum of Natural History. Foxes are pioneers. “When a place is quiet, they are there,” Julliard said.

In north Wales, onceherd of goatsThe Great Orme Kashmiri mountain herd has taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno. Before the outbreak, they lived on a hill near the town and rarely ventured there. Local police have received numerous calls about cattle wandering down the road, climbing fences in search of food. However, they have not intervened because the animals know how to find their way back.

Residents of New Delhi (India) discovered monkeys looking for food in an alley where shops were closed to avoid the epidemic. In mid-March, amonkeysalso freely poured into a shop near the Prang Sam Yod temple in Lopburi province, Thailand to rummage through what was left.

Since March, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (USA) has been closed to avoid the epidemic. Thanks to that, Wellington penguin has had the opportunity to explore the aquarium in his home for the first time. Aquarium staff said that during the time when they stopped receiving tourists, in addition to maintaining food for the animals, they also let them freely explore their surroundings and express their natural behaviors.

LIVEVenice(Italy), the crystal clear blue canals attract seabirds, swans, and fish swimming freely in the absence of tourists and gondolas.

In Hong Kong and many European cities such as Barcelona and Rome, wild boars roam freely on the streets, whereas previously they lived only in the distant hills. Many Roma people do not dare walk their dogs in the suburbs because of the increasing numbers and aggressiveness of wild boars.

Meanwhile, in the Chilean capital Santiago, a large leopard played next to abandoned cars, before being captured by police and released back into the wild.

There's no denying that one positive impact this lockdown has had on the world is cleaner air. Major cities like Los Angeles andNew Delhihas seen huge reductions in air pollution.

Many industries and tourism services have been curtailed, leading to positive environmental changes. Some activists say the re-emergence of many wild animals is evidence that humans have put too much pressure on the natural world.

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