Human activity ‘forces animals to move 70% further to survive’

Researchers analysed 208 separate studies of 167 animal species over 39 years to assess how human disturbance influences animal movement, writes Tom Batchelor

Badgers are on the move in response to UK cullings (PA)

Human activity such as farming and tourism forces animals to travel 70 per cent further to find food, shelter or a mate, the first study of its kind to consider the impact on global wildlife stocks over nearly four decades has found.

Australian researchers discovered that a wide range of animal species were negatively impacted by humans, from Swedish deer disturbed by skiers to spotted sand lizards in South Africa disrupted by intensive farming methods.

The research analysed 208 separate studies of 167 animal species over 39 years to assess how human disturbance influences animal movement.