When the COVID-19 pandemic forced humans to hunker down at home, wild animals took advantage of our absence, new research shows.
The study, authored by 175 researchers from around the world, examines how pandemic restrictions during the height of the global health crisis altered animal behaviour.
Researchers found that when human mobility was constrained by lockdown measures, wildlife soon took notice — moving closer to roads and moving more freely across the landscape.
From elephants in Botswana to grizzlies roaming the Rockies, animals enjoyed the solitude when places became largely devoid of people.
“One of the biggest surprises was actually seeing animals respond and change
