The coronavirus pandemic has led to the world implementing varying levels of lockdown measures since the beginning of the year.
As a result, the lack of human presence has seen cases of wildlife incursions on incongruous spaces.
Videos and images have emerged of coyotes walking on a beach underneath the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, tribes of wild goats in a Welsh town, and a kangaroo bouncing along the unattended roads of Adelaide.
Activists and campaigners have used this phenomenon to encourage global commerce, governments, and lawmakers to implement longer-term rights for wildlife.
“As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we need to look at how we can improve legislation, improve policy, improve regulations, improve public education,” Mark Jones, veterinarian and head of policy at Born Free Foundation, told The Independent.
“[We need] to improve the way that we distribute money and other resources to invest in the restoration of nature”, Dr Jones added.
Following speculation the outbreak began with the trading of wildlife, The Independent has launched its Stop The Wildlife Trade campaign in an attempt to tackle links between infectious diseases and destruction of the natural world.
The campaign asks that governments work together to impose stricter controls on the trade, sale and consumption of wild animals.
Find more information on how to help wildlife during the pandemic on the Born Free Foundationwebsite.
