Cameras capture 17 thousand animal crossings over bridges installed over Jefferson Souza streets More than 17 thousand animal crossings over artificial canopy bridges were recorded in less than two years in Alta Floresta (MT). The number is displayed on a panel installed in the central region of the city and updated as new records are made by the monitoring cameras. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram To update the counter, a crane truck enters the scene. This is not an operation related to deforestation. On the contrary: the equipment helps to give visibility to an Amazon fauna conservation project. The operator lifts the machine's basket with a researcher and a municipal Environment Secretary. At the top, the two update the number of crossings recorded on the panel. Bridges over streets connect trees and help protect animals from being run over Jefferson Souza See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: RARITY: Rare blue frog from the Amazon becomes an object of desire and is on the route of international trafficking FLAGRANT: Video shows bem-te-vi eating a whole lizard in Magé, RJ FILM: Documentary recorded on the coast of PR reveals 'silent invasion' and risks to biodiversity Diversity Among the animals caught in the forests surrounding the city, which has more than 60 thousand inhabitants, there are six species of monkeys that occur in the urban area. Among the most threatened are the primate that bears the name of the city, the Alta-Floresta zogue-zogue, as well as the black-faced spider monkey, the red-headed howler monkey and the Schneider marmoset. At the head of the Alta Floresta Sem Trampling Program is biologist Fernanda Abra, president of the Reconecta Institute. The researcher gained international prominence for her work that transforms science into practical solutions to reduce the impacts of roads and railways on Brazilian fauna. "I'm a road ecologist, very used to working more with road and rail environments, and I received a challenge, a call from the people of Alta Floresta to look at the reality they had here. I was really surprised to see the number of animals moving around the city, many primates, including endangered primates", explains Fernanda. City installs bridges for monkeys and records more than 17 thousand animal crossings Jefferson Souza Many of these animals are run over in broad daylight. Faced with the problem, one of the alternatives found was to create “avenues” that connect the trees. “We came up with a solution, which are artificial canopy bridges, monkey bridges, which we have already installed on federal highways and brought into the city”, explains Fernanda. The first phase of the program began in 2024, with the installation of seven artificial bridges, measuring between 20 and 25 meters in length. "For the primate that spends most of its life in the treetops, it is an immense challenge to cross a street. For some species, it can be an insurmountable barrier of asphalt, sidewalks and vehicle movement. A hostile environment for an animal that has an ecology completely focused on the treetops", says Fernanda. See what's highlighted in g1:
More than 17 thousand animal crossings are recorded on bridges over the city of MT
Cameras capture 17 thousand animal crossings over bridges installed over Jefferson Souza streets More than 17 thousand animal crossings over artificial canopy bridges were recorded in less than two years in Alta Floresta (MT). The number...
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Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram To update the counter, a crane truck enters the scene. This is not an operation related to deforestation.
- On the contrary: the equipment helps to give visibility to an Amazon fauna conservation project.
- The operator lifts the machine's basket with a researcher and a municipal Environment Secretary.
Editorial reading aid based only on information contained in this story and its identified source.
Some species caught using the bridges are strictly arboreal, that is, they almost never come down from the treetops. Without artificial structures, these animals can become isolated. "Animals need to move to find food, find water, a sexual partner, mark their territory. When these animals become isolated, this has a huge impact on that population", explains Fernanda. In addition to isolation, there is another risk: traffic accidents. "In an eventual desperate attempt to access the forest fragment on the other side of the avenue, traffic can be relentless with these animals, putting not only the animals' lives at risk, but also the lives of drivers. In addition to the countless losses that an accident brings", explains the researcher. Two monitoring cameras were installed at each “monkey bridge” to record wildlife movement. “In places where we have bridges, we have reduced pedestrian accidents”, highlights Fernanda. Second stage This August, eight more canopy bridges are being installed in Alta Floresta. The Terra da Gente team closely followed the joint efforts to build and install the structures. Press outlets from Brazil and other countries also went to the city to learn about the work carried out in the city, which, in the recent past, faced serious problems related to deforestation. Bridges over streets connect trees and help protect animals from being run over Jefferson Souza "This is another one of the projects that helped the city reduce deforestation, reduce fires and recover more than 5 thousand hectares of APP (Permanent Preservation Areas) throughout our territory. We only achieved this with the participation of the entire community", explains Gersilene Meira Leite, Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development of Alta Floresta. International award-winning researcher In 2019, Fernanda received the Future for Nature Award, in the Netherlands. The award recognized the work aimed at protecting Brazilian fauna and strategies to reduce animal collisions on highways. Five years later, the researcher received the so-called “Oscar of conservation”: the Whitley Award, from the United Kingdom, considered one of the main world awards related to nature. Fernanda was awarded for her work in the Reconecta Project, an initiative that seeks to connect forest areas and allow arboreal animals to cross highways safely through canopy bridges. City installs bridges for animals and prevents people from being run over Jefferson Souza In 2026, Fernanda was also recognized by the National Geographic Society with the Wayfinder Award. The award once again highlighted its work in making transport structures more compatible with biodiversity conservation and