Road traffic is a dangerous place for hares and wild rabbits. In Austria, about 55 rabbits are trampled and killed every day. In addition, about 137 other wild animals such as deer and foxes lose their lives every day. Another challenge for the animals is the increasing land use, for example due to urban expansion.
Since they are in the mating season, there are a lot of rabbits on the move right now. A hare has an average range of 20 square kilometers. “Austria is crossed by more than 126,000 kilometers of roads. And with that, the habitat of the rabbits and many other wild animals is cut up. Road traffic kills many animals,” says Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) spokesman Christian Gratzer. In a comparison of the federal states in 2020/21, the most rabbits died in Lower Austria (8644), followed by Upper Austria (5329) and Burgenland (2768) In Vienna “only” 43 rabbits died in road traffic.
More traffic areas
According to the VCÖ and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), now citing data from the Federal Environment Agency, traffic today takes up about 60 square kilometers more than a decade ago. This corresponds to the whole area of the city of Salzburg. According to the two organizations, a reduction in land use and a halt to urban sprawl is necessary to preserve the habitat of wild animals. “For the past ten years, an area the size of three football fields has been constructed for traffic every day. That is why we have to reconsider even large transport projects,” demands Maria Schachinger, spokeswoman for soil protection for WWF Austria.
An Austrian soil protection contract is intended to replace the massive use of land, for example through urban expansion. Now supermarkets, commercial buildings or residential areas outside built-up areas would take up enormous areas for access roads or parking spaces. Therefore, the city centers and the local offer must be strengthened. In addition, a nature conservation offensive is needed.
“Intergenerational Justice”
“We have to be more careful with nature. It is also a question of intergenerational equality. What is built in today is no longer available to our children and future generations as a natural space,” concludes VCÖ spokesman Gratzer.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
