Photos show wildlife roaming freely as humans are on coronavirus lockdown, from 'bear parties' in Yosemite to lion naps on South Africa's streets

Sophia AnkelApr 17, 2020, 19:42 IST

A composite image of lions napping on a street in South Africa and deer feeding in Yosemite Valley in April 2020.Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic has caused millions of people to stay home, and animals have taken the opportunity to explore natural parks and empty cities.
Several national parks have also closed due to the outbreak, leaving animals to explore the park without any human distraction.
Photos and videos show wild animals reclaiming natural spaces that are usually busy with humans, from coyotes in Yosemite National Park to lions sleeping on the streets of South Africa's Krueger Park.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

As the coronavirus pandemic forces millions of people to stay home and halt outdoor activities, wild animals are taking advantage of the peace and quiet to reclaim natural spaces and roam empty cities.

The global lockdown has also seen cities record drastic drops in pollution and air quality during the outbreak, though how this affects the long-term fight against climate change remains unclear.

From coyotes in California's Yosemite National Park to wild boars on the streets of Israel, see how wild animals reemerging from their hiding spots, reclaiming natural spaces, and exploring their environs.

Read the original article on Insider

Another positive impact the lockdown has brought on the natural world is cleaner air. Major cities like Los Angeles and New Delhi have witnessed huge drops in their air pollution levels.

In the last few weeks, all sorts of animals have been seen strolling through streets around the world, like these shaggy mountain goats seen walking through a town in Wales in late March.

Wild animals are even invading cities, like these boars causing distress in a residential area in Haifa, Israel.

Here's another view of the tarmac, which has now been occupied by at least eight lions. Park rangers say they apparently liked lying on the road because it was dry.

In South Africa's Kruger National Park, a pride of lions was caught snoozing on a street by one of the park's lodges.

Yosemite National Park is usually teeming with tourists at this time of year, and many animals never emerge because there can "literally be walls of cars, stop-and-go traffic or people in the park," the ranger said.

Yosemite National Park is usually teeming with tourists at this time of year, and many animals never emerge because there can "literally be walls of cars, stop-and-go traffic or people in the park," the ranger said.

Black bears in particular have made more appearances than usual, with one ranger saying she thinks the bears are "having a party" since the park closed down.

In California's now-closed Yosemite National Park, rangers reported seeing bobcats, bears, and coyotes exploring empty tents and administrative buildings without any human distraction.

Wild animals have been taking advantage of the quiet streets during the pandemic, as millions of people are placed on lockdown and multiple national parks are shut.

Here's a roundup of coronavirus stats on a country-by-country basis

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Photos show wildlife roaming freely as humans are on coronavirus lockdown, from 'bear parties' in Yosemite to lion naps on South Africa's streets

Another positive impact the lockdown has brought on the natural world is cleaner air. Major cities like Los Angeles and New Delhi have witnessed huge drops in their air pollution levels.

In the last few weeks, all sorts of animals have been seen strolling through streets around the world, like these shaggy mountain goats seen walking through a town in Wales in late March.

Wild animals are even invading cities, like these boars causing distress in a residential area in Haifa, Israel.

Here's another view of the tarmac, which has now been occupied by at least eight lions. Park rangers say they apparently liked lying on the road because it was dry.

In South Africa's Kruger National Park, a pride of lions was caught snoozing on a street by one of the park's lodges.

Yosemite National Park is usually teeming with tourists at this time of year, and many animals never emerge because there can "literally be walls of cars, stop-and-go traffic or people in the park," the ranger said.

Black bears in particular have made more appearances than usual, with one ranger saying she thinks the bears are "having a party" since the park closed down.

In California's now-closed Yosemite National Park, rangers reported seeing bobcats, bears, and coyotes exploring empty tents and administrative buildings without any human distraction.

Wild animals have been taking advantage of the quiet streets during the pandemic, as millions of people are placed on lockdown and multiple national parks are shut.