Researchers in Ukraine used camera traps to investigate the impact of armed conflict on wildlife, comparing what they saw in 2022 (after the Russian occupation) to the same period in 2021 (pre-conflict). They report that mammal species responded to armed conflict through behavioral adjustments, including reduced activity during the night. The results provide valuable insights into the immediate responses of wildlife to such events and underscore the potential of camera trapping to quantify the ecological effects of war. Armed conflicts are horrific for the human beings involved; they are also bad for wildlife. Understanding the impacts of such conflicts is challenging, however, given the limited access for, and danger to, researchers. Here, Svitlana Kudrenko et al. were able to take advantage of camera traps already in operation to understand the impacts on wildlife of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, specifically of the Russian occupation of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. They found clear effects of conflict on mammals in the region, including reduced activity, especially during active conflict. Such impacts confirm that political instability does not just harm humans directly involved.
For reporters interested in research integrity-related priorities, Kudrenko told SciPak: "Increasing recognition for local researchers in less developed countries [is a priority]."
