For the past months during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the world has seen how mother nature has taken over the planet back. From the decrease in air pollution, bodies of water getting clearer, animals taking over human habitation, and an increase in numbers of wild animals. . . Like the seals in Europe.
The increasing number of these animals in Europe has proven the benefits of the absence of human activity. But not only is it observed in the European continent but other parts of the world as well. It is also like a sign that the world is healing itself without the adverse effects of human activities.
Increased Populations of Seals
According to a report by NBC News, the Heliholand Island of Germany is seeing a boost in seal populations during the coronavirus lockdowns when human activity was lesser or not present. The island has received fewer visitors than ever, which in turn reduced the stress on the seal mothers.
During pre-pandemic times, visitors or tourists would flock to the site to observe the pups to observe how they live and behave in their natural habitats from at least 30 yards where these animals are located, the recommended distance as to avoid frightening the seals.
Moreover, the initial estimates by experts have revealed that the seal population in the island has increased by about 17% this year. Scientists are continuing their investigation to know if aside from the pandemic there is another factor that could have influenced the boost in the seal populations in Europe.
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Effect of Lockdowns
In a previous report from Science Times, they reported that various animals have already taken to the streets roaming around while humans stay inside. Indeed, the houses have seemed to become the humans' cages while animals go about and play on the streets.
Not only that, but they were also spotted in different bodies of water in unprecedented numbers like the thousands of flamingos that flocked Navi Mumbai painting India in pink, or the thousands of pink jellyfish that look like sea tomatoes that invaded the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
Experts claim that these wild animals have resurfaced or flocked in those areas due to the lack of human activities that usually threaten their existence.
Negative Effects of the Pandemic
Although there is some good news on the increase of populations on some wild animals, there are also some of them that are adversely affected by the pandemic, particularly those that are infected with COVID-19.
In Denmark and the Netherlands, their mink fur industry has been severely affected because they found that many of their farmed minks have tested positive for the virus. Both governments have ordered the culling of these animals, most notably in Denmark where SARS-CoV-2 might have mutated.
Not to mention, the plans of some zoos to euthanize some of their animals that they could not rehome because they have already permanently shut down when the pandemic hit. Indeed, this pandemic has not only affected humans but animals as well.
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