Western Australia’s large-scale Wilman Wadandi Highway incorporates 45 dedicated wildlife corridors, including rope bridges and underpasses, designed to protect native fauna. Recent camera monitoring reveals these crossings see significant regular use by animals, easing early doubts about their effectiveness.
- 45 wildlife crossings with fencing and bridges built along a 16.7-mile highway
- 50 trail cameras recorded nearly 1,000 animal crossings in 12 nights
- Crossings could greatly reduce collisions and reconnect animal habitats
What happened
In 2024, the Wilman Wadandi Highway was completed in Western Australia, including extensive wildlife protection measures. These consist of 19 rope bridges, 24 underpasses, and two land bridges, complemented by over 200,000 feet of fauna fencing. The goal was to provide safe passages for local wildlife such as kangaroos, possums, and endangered species disrupted by the new highway.
Since April 2025, the West Australian Department of Transport has monitored wildlife activity on these structures with 50 motion-sensor cameras. Preliminary results from springs and summers of 2025 and 2026 show almost 1,000 animal crossings captured in just 12 nights of footage, averaging more than 75 uses a night. This evidence suggests the corridors are being actively used by a variety of species.
Why it feels good
Wildlife crossings help to reduce roadkill and vehicle collisions, which benefit both animals and human safety. Globally, such infrastructure has proven effective in reconnecting fragmented habitats and preventing injuries and fatalities. The promising results from this project offer a hopeful example for how infrastructure and conservation efforts can align.
While some local conservationists remain cautiously skeptical pending more detailed data, the initial numbers excite hopes for balancing regional development with ecological needs. These crossings represent a proactive approach that could save thousands of wildlife lives and prevent costly accidents, reinforcing the value of thoughtful infrastructure planning.
What to enjoy or watch next
The government plans to release a comprehensive technical paper detailing the extensive monitoring results and wildlife usage patterns of these crossings. This data will help environmental groups and planners better evaluate the effectiveness and inform future projects both in Australia and worldwide.
Globally, wildlife crossings are gaining momentum, with states in the U.S. such as Colorado and Arizona seeing measurable declines in animal-related crashes. California soon expects to open the world’s largest corridor, and similar initiatives continue worldwide. Watching these efforts evolve can offer inspiration for how infrastructure can foster coexistence between humans and wildlife.