Author, Catherine Barr

Illustrator, Christiane Engel

While researching her books ‘The Story of Conservation’, ‘Water - Protecting Freshwater to Save Life on Earth’ and ‘The Story of Climate Change’, Catherine became acutely aware of the challenges of animal migration as human populations grow and nature fragments. As space is squeezed, tensions rise and this book explores the challenges and the critical role of wildlife crossings in helping seven different animals find the food, water, space and mates they need to survive.

Human vs wildlife conflict is one of the most critical conservation issues today. By linking nature broken apart by roads, railways, farming, cities, fences, fishing gear and dams, wildlife crossings play an important role in mitigating this conflict, helping species and therefore people thrive.

’Wildlife Crossings: Protecting Animal Pathways Around the World’ follows the footprints and explores the stories of elephants, hedgehogs, the extraordinary little spoon-billed sandpiper, gibbons, salmon, bears and cougars in specific locations around the world. Its positive, engaging stories - with fabulously detailed illustrations by Christiane Engel - include pull-out facts and rainbow colours.

From fish ladders to swinging canopy bridges, elephant corridors and hedgehog highways, the book shows how wildlife crossings make it possible for species to make their ancient journeys. Developing these stories involved fascinating research with scientists and campaigners around the world, individuals passionately involved in these real-life stories. From cougar conversations with Beth Pratt - the inspiration behind the world’s biggest wildlife bridge - to grizzly chats with a road ecologist in Banff National Park and gibbon field insights with local primatologist Carolyn Thompson, it has been an incredible personal journey to create this book.

These hopeful and fascinating stories are engaging children in the stories of front-line conservation today, whilst also encouraging creative writing and drawing skills as follow up activities to reading this book