Amazon Bridges Save Monkeys, End Roadkill

Eight rope bridges installed in Alta Floresta, Brazil, in 2024 have yielded significant wildlife protection results over 15 months. Camera traps documented around 15,000 safe crossings by arboreal animals, including various monkey species, and crucially, no instances of roadkill have occurred. This innovative solution stems from Projeto Reconecta, founded by biologist Fernanda Abra, and is now expanding across Brazil and Suriname.

The design features a multi-layered structure catering to diverse arboreal locomotion, from prehensile tails to arm-swinging. Each bridge is equipped with cameras monitoring animal usage and behavior. Species observed include the critically endangered titi monkey, which has become the project's symbol, along with spider monkeys, howler monkeys, opossums, and sloths. This initiative addresses Brazil's severe roadkill problem, which impacts nearly 9 million mammals annually, according to a 2022 study.

Further implementation is planned for Alta Floresta's urban area and in Lucas do Rio Verde, with additional bridges slated for Suriname. Broader policy changes are also underway, with Brazil's National Department of Transport Infrastructure designating the rope bridge design as a recommended highway standard from 2026. A bill for a National Road Safety Plan for Wildlife is also progressing through the Senate.

The project has a successful precedent on Highway 174, where 32 canopy bridges were installed in 2021 in partnership with the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous people. Over five years, approximately 1,250 primate crossings were documented there. These structures are increasingly used by animals over time, demonstrating the long-term benefits of such interventions for biodiversity conservation.