New animal barriers installed on Estonia's Tähetorni Street

Estonia has enhanced its wildlife protection measures with the installation of 1.3 kilometers of new reinforced concrete barriers along the southern side of Tähetorni Street. These barriers are designed to prevent small animals from entering the roadway.

The new barriers supplement existing infrastructure, including small animal tunnels and fences that were established in 2021. A previous follow-up study indicated that these tunnels were particularly effective when used in conjunction with barriers. The combined system successfully facilitated passage for 23 species of vertebrates, including amphibians, reptiles, hedgehogs, and hares.

Prior to the implementation of these protective measures, traffic accidents claimed the lives of hundreds of small animals each year on sections of the road where barriers were absent. The new installation aims to significantly reduce this wildlife mortality.