It's an odd occurrence when mother nature seems to take back what is rightfully hers. Since the spread of the coronavirus has started around the world, the skies have been clearing up with air pollution lessening by the day, and bodies of water now getting clearer as well.
Animals have been appearing more frequently than usual in their natural environment now that they are undeterred by humans. Some even end up in places you wouldn't expect, such as hotel pools and neighborhoods that used to be teeming with people.
For once, it seems like the world has gone topsy-turvy with humans in their 'cages' and animals wandering freely in the outdoors.
Animals on Holiday
Off the beach of Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique, a wild hippo was seen splashing and enjoying the waves on April 21. On a regular day, the beach near the Elephant Reserve in Mozambique would be busy with surfers and tourists.
But with COVID-19 holding a tight grip on people, the wildlife is now triumphantly reclaiming what is originally theirs to enjoy. Different types of animals such as birds, fish, and monkeys have been spotted returning to the picturesque seafront.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, with the fishing and boating ban in place, resident dolphins of the Bosphorus Strait went out for a frolic in the pristine waters, enjoying their uninterrupted time while exploring near the shoreline.
The Turkish city holding approximately 16 million residents has been under lockdown since Thursday as part of government measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The pandemic has killed more than 2,700 people in Turkey.
Erol Orkcu, the head of the amateur and sports fishing association in Istanbul, said that a decrease in boat and human traffic across the strait has a tremendous impact. He adds that terrestrial and aquatic creatures can now enjoy their freedom without human beings.
All the way in Thailand, a wild monitor lizard was seen taking a dip in an empty hotel swimming pool that temporarily closed down to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reptile was spotted by Sandra Roberts, a British tourist, while she was walking through the hotel yard in Bangkok on April 25.
While the rest of the hotel guests were restricted to their rooms, the lizard enjoyed the empty pool all to itself.
Government officials in Thailand have imposed strict measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus, including banning hotels from using swimming pools. Other restrictions include canceling all incoming flights, curfews, travel bans, and alcohol prohibition. The country has documented at least 2,947 infections and 54 deaths.
Going Bananas in the Streets
In a different area in Thailand, hundreds of hungry monkeys were seen fighting over a single banana in Lopburi, after the coronavirus outbreak caused a significant decline in the number of tourists who usually feed them.
The animals were reported to be part of two' rival gangs' made up of the monkeys who live in the city and those from the temple areas who were fighting over food.
The video shows hundreds of monkeys crossing a road then chasing a single monkey that has got hold of a banana.
Meanwhile, wild boars have been taking over the city of Haifa in Israel. The pigs have been roaming free and messing up the trash bins in the neighborhood in search of food.
People have been debating on ways how to handle the animals. Heated arguments have sparked between animal rights defenders and people who want to kill or drive them away. The city has then banned plucking out the animals.
With the wildlife getting especially wild in times like these, it's pretty uplifting to see that at least some creatures of this Earth are having the times of their lives.
Here are more videos of animals on the loose and enjoying a human-free coronavirus-ridden world.
