The Wild of the Urban Jungle

Think of habitats for wildlife - a modern bustling metropolis might be the last place that comes to mind. Unsurprisingly, the image of wildlife thriving amidst towering skyscrapers greatly contradicts the dominant narrative of urbanization being a devastating threat on biodiversity.

Indeed, 290,000km2 of natural habitats will be under threat from urbanization by 2030, pushing us further from Aichi Target 5 aiming to halve the rate of natural habitat loss. Yet as cities continue to expand, it might be crucial to consider the possibility of cities as homes for displaced wildlife.

"Urban landscapes can be polluted and crowded, yet they also represent a rapidly expanding habitat for wildlife."

Zoological Institute of London

Fortunately, such a possibility is not too far from reality. A Convention of Biological Diversity report named Cities and Biodiversity Outlook demonstrated the capabilities of cities to support thriving populations of native species. Many cities still retain about two-thirds of regionally endemic species without deliberate conservation efforts - an optimistic result that highlights the resilience of wildlife and the potential for greater urban biodiversity with conscientious planning.

Gallery: The Wild of the Urban Jungle

Image 1: Leopard in Mumbai (Source: Steve Winter); Image 2: Wild boars in Berlin (Source: Florian Mollers); Image 3: Deer resting on a highway in Nevada (Source: James Folder); Image 4: Otter family in Singapore (Source: PBS); Image 5: Bald Eagle in Wisconsin (Source: Bob Leggett); Image 6: Cougar in Los Angeles (Source: Steve Winter)

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The peregrine success story

Urban landscapes undoubtedly differ greatly from natural environments. To survive, species develop corresponding adaptations to navigate the urban jungle.

In some instances, urban environments provide conducive habitats for some species to recover and thrive. The peregrine falcon is one such success story. After steep population declines in the 1960s due to DDT pesticide poisoning, the species is experiencing a remarkable comeback across UK cities. Skyscrapers and cathedrals provide prime peregrine nesting spots and more importantly, the sheer abundance of feral pigeons provide easily accessible prey for these raptors.

Their ability to exploit the urban landscape has allowed peregrine populations to recover steadily, and some ecologists even observe urban peregrines breeding more successfully than their rural counterparts.

Peregrine falcon soaring over the London skyline (Source: BBC; David Tipling)

Check out Episode 6: Cities of BBC's Planet Earth II to see how peregrines and other species have adapted to city life around the world.

Trailer: Planet Earth II: Episode 6 - Cities. Watch the full episode here. (Source: BBC)

However, not all species boast similar success stories. Deliberate management remains essential to safeguard and support urban biodiversity. Next, we shall explore the challenges and opportunities of urban rewilding.