It’s difficult to say how many animals are killed on the roads each year, but it’s estimated that up to 1 million animals are killed every single day on the roads of the United States alone. Luckily, efforts are being made around the world to reduce the amount of animal deaths. The first animal bridges were built in France in the 1950s, and their designs have been evolving ever since. Take a look at these 7 ingenious crossings:
Squirrel Bridge, Washington, USA
Nutty Narrows bridge is actually the narrowest bridge in the world. It was conceived by a man named Amos Peters, who decided to do something about the constant stream of squirrels meeting an unfortunate fate as they made their way across the road. The bridge can also be found in various US heritage registers and lists.
Elephant Underpass, Kenya
Lying under the the busy Nanyuki Meru road in northern Kenya, this underpass has allowed previously-separated elephant populations to reunite once again. It was the first underpass of its kind in the world when constructed.
Bee Highway, Oslo, Norway
This “highway” is the first of its kind in the world. It was designed to allow for bees to pass through the Norwegian capital safely. Bees are important to the global food chain, and Norway has decided to take action – a third of the 200 wild bee species found in the country are considered endangered.
Crab Bridge, Christmas Island
Christmas Island Red Crabs are endemic to Christmas Island, and migrate in their millions to lay their eggs each year. In order to protect the species, crab bridges have been placed across the road so they don’t get crushed by cars.
Ecoduct, Banff National Park, Canada
There are many different species in Banff National Park, including grizzly bears and Canadian lynxes. Luckily, they can get across the highways that cross through the park via ecoducts, allowing the wildlife to avoid the big hauler trucks that pass underneath them.
Rope bridge, Hume Freeway, Victoria, Australia
This rope bridge is credited with reviving a squirrel glider population that previously couldn’t cross over the road to breed. These cockatoos were seen having a rest on the bridge, and one of them even smiled for the camera!
Animal Bridge, North Brabant Province, The Netherlands
Red deer, roe deer, wild boar, badgers and foxes all call The Netherlands home, and thankfully this bridge will ensure that less of them have to deal with cars as they move back and forth.
