Endangered Wildlife: Unseen Victims of Coronavirus

Measures taken to stop the spread of Coronavirus are having unintended consequences for wildlife and biodiversity conservation that could take years to repair.

In the wake of shelter-in-place orders, stories have emerged of coyotes exploring empty beaches in the San Francisco Bay and goats roaming city centers. Still, freed from human intervention, not all species are thriving. Instead, efforts to limit the spread of Coronavirus could make already threatened species more vulnerable to extinction.

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, and for a very good reason—protecting people and reducing the spread of this disease is a necessity. Still, travel restrictions and social distancing requirements have also halted many vital conservation efforts, leaving already threatened wildlife and ecosystems susceptible.

island-conservation-invasive-species-preventing-extinctions-coronavirus-endangered-species-day-rhino
Endangered species including Rhinoceros could face additional threats in the face of Coronavirus. Credit: Matthew Rodgers

Matt Brown, Africa regional managing director for the Nature Conservancy highlights the threat this pandemic poses to already Endangered Rhino populations, saying:

Anything with a horn right now, like rhinos, is at risk of being poached. The concern is that we’re going to lose the last 10 years of good conservation work—and an increase in animal numbers—quickly because of this.”

Poaching is not the only threat to global biodiversity. Island ecosystems where invasive species control and removal efforts were planned or underway have largely been halted. Ambitious projects such as those on Midway Atoll and Gough Island to remove invasive mice have been delayed by a year, putting albatross populations at even greater risk. Although such a delay might not seem vital, research on Gough Island indicates that predatory, invasive mice result in two million fewer seabird eggs and chicks surviving, annually.

island-conservation-invasive-species-preventing-extinctions-coronavirus-midway-atoll-short-tailed-albatross
Critically Endangered Short-tailed Albatross incubating an egg. Credit: USFWS/J. Klavitter

On the coast of California, conservation efforts focused on removing invasive giant reeds that occupy the river beds of Ventura County have been put on hold. The rapidly growing, bamboo-like weed threatens the recovery of native willow and cottonwood trees, which serve as vital habitat for endangered birds. Giant reed outcompetes the trees and makes the region more susceptible to wildfires where the invasive plants act as kindling for the flames. In an area that is already prone to devastating fires, this could become dangerous as the dry season approaches.

Although ongoing efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, are necessary for the health and safety of people, there is a serious concern that there will be unintended consequences for wildlife, going as far as to set some conservation programs back by years. Despite these concerns, conservationists are doing their best to reduce and prevent any loss of momentum, and remain optimistic for the future of threatened and endangered species.

Read more at WIRED and HuffPost.
Featured photo: Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos) on Gough Island. Credit: Ben Dilley

Back Next

Want to learn more?

Check out other journal entries we think you might be interested in.

December 4, 2024

The Ebiil Society: Champions of Palau

Ann Singeo, founder of our partner organization the Ebiil Society, shares her vision for a thriving Palau and a flourishing world of indigenous science!

September 10, 2024

What is Climate Week?

Climate Week NYC: what is it and why is it important? Read on to find out why Island Conservation is attending this amazing event!

November 28, 2023

Rare Joins the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge

Rare will support the effort to restore island-ocean ecosystems by engaging the Coastal 500 network of local leaders in safeguarding biodiversity (Arlington, VA, USA) Today, international conservation organization Rare announced it has joined the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC), a global effort to…