The Netherlands has many beautiful natural areas, but also a very dense road network. This does not always go well; many animals are killed every year. That is why fauna passages are constructed. These are tunnels under roads, walkways under bridges or bridges over the road. Specially constructed for animals. So they can cross safely. There are now thousands of fauna passages throughout the Netherlands. But do they work? That's what we want to find out!
Cameras have been placed at fauna passages in various locations in the municipalities of Amersfoort, Almere and Apeldoorn. The video images are sent directly from the field to Wildspotters. And we ask for your help to view the images and indicate which animal you think you see. This way we can do research together, to see if and which animals use these passages.
Each video image is viewed by at least 20 Wildspotters before a final animal choice is made. Did you get it right? Then you save points! And that's how you become a better and better Wildspotter.
Target
Wildspotters has two main goals:
- Conduct research on the operation of fauna passages
There are thousands of fauna passages. But most have never been examined to see if they work. Examining thousands of passages is a lot of work, but together we can do a lot of work! - Increased awareness and attention to fauna passages
Did you already know what a fauna passage is? Not many people are familiar with fauna passages. While every night thousands of animals use them! And that makes them very important for our nature. Unfortunately, research shows that many passages do not work properly (anymore); because they are broken, overgrown by plants or simply forgotten. More awareness and attention will help us to take better care of them!
Who am I?
My name is Mark van Heukelum of Dutch Wall Fish. I am an ecologist and with initiatives like Wildspotters I try to do important research on our nature together. And to create more attention and involvement for the fascinating nature our country has to offer! There is still so much to discover. And it is precisely by doing this together that we can get much more done. Will you join us?
Over the past 10 years, I have done a lot of research on fauna passages. I have seen that they work very well, when properly maintained. But I have also seen that, unfortunately, many of the fauna passages I researched do not work well (anymore). With Wildspotters I want to kill two birds with one stone: research the functioning of wildlife passages and create more awareness.
Wildspotters came about through the fine collaboration with the municipalities Amersfoort, Almere and Apeldoorn. Thank you!