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Wild animals have been filmed using specially built rope bridges to cross a busy highway in southern Brazil without risking their lives.
The crossings are located along the RS-040 highway, which links the Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region to the coast of Rio Grande do Sul.
They were were installed from October 2022 following studies by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul to identify areas with the highest concentration of wildlife and recorded accidents.
Video from the scene shows hedgehogs, brown howler monkeys, and white-eared opossums moving along the suspended walkways high above the road.
The structures are connected to the surrounding treetops and supported by concrete poles.
The walkways were introduced to protect the endangered brown howler monkey and other species, as well as to improve road safety.
Local officials say reports of collisions with wild animals have almost dropped to zero since the installations.
Between September 2024 and May 2025, more than 4,000 mammals used the crossings, including 1,902 hedgehogs, 1,335 brown howler monkeys, and 220 white-eared opossums.
Luis Fernando Vanacor, CEO of the Gaucha Highway Company, said the results prove the success of the project, with animals "no longer at risk of being run over" and now crossing safely.
The brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) is a focus species because it is threatened with extinction locally and globally.
One of the two subspecies, the Northern brown howler, is considered especially at risk, with habitat loss forcing it down from the trees and into dangerous contact with roads, hunters, and domestic dogs.
It is estimated that there only about 250 individuals left in the wild.
Officials say the walkways are helping to prevent serious traffic accidents caused by vehicles striking wild animals, while also reconnecting fragmented forest habitats.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik
Byline Video Editor: David Stojkovic
Byline Copychecker: Dushko Kochoski
Byline Illustrator: Dushko Kochoski
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Rio_Grande_do_Sul
Subject: K1, VP, Animals, Primates, Monkeys, Architecture, Real-life, Inspirational
T4 Editor Story Rating: 6
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 8
T4 Total rating: 7
