How habitat fragmentation affects animals

Asian elephants

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are also victims of habitat fragmentation, as humans continue to expand into the tropical forests where they live. Less available space means Asian elephant populations are cramped into smaller and smaller areas. This raises the risks of human-elephant conflict in nearby communities and has blocked traditional migratory routes. Asian elephants are endangered.

In China, we've been working to reverse that trend. We're working with community rangers to educate their communities and prevent human-elephant conflict. We're also restoring Asian elephant habitat, supporting local communities to participate in conservation in Yunnan province.

In India, we've been working alongside the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) on a decade-long mission to designate and protect 101 elephant corridors. These corridors enable communities and animals to coexist by allowing elephants easy passage between habitats.

African wild dogs

African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) are particularly impacted by farms and grazing areas, which continue to take up space in their habitats. Habitat fragmentation increases their contact with people and domestic animals, in turn increasing human-wildlife conflict and exposing African wild dogs to new diseases. As of 2025, there are just 1,409 mature African wild dogs left in the wild, and they are an endangered species.

Black rhinos

Also in Africa, black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) face habitat fragmentation from agriculture, plantations, mining, and tourism. Black rhinos are territorial, and when they are forced to live in close proximity to one another, they experience clashes and fights, lower breeding rates, and higher rates of disease. Black rhinos are listed as critically endangered. Today, there are just 3,142 mature individuals left in the wild.

Indian rhinos

Indian rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis), also known as the greater one-horned rhino, are the largest rhino species on Earth. Today, there are just 2,200 mature Indian rhinos left in the wild.

These rhinos can be found in just 12 protected areas in India and Nepal. One of these is Manas National Park in India. Three decades ago, ethnic conflict led to the fragmentation and deforestation of this habitat, and more than 100 one-horned rhinos died.

IFAW partnered with WTI and the Assam Forest Department to create the Greater Manas Landscape, restoring keystone species, like the one-horned rhino, and expanding protected land so it is now double what it once was.

Koalas

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are facing habitat fragmentation caused by land clearing and climate change in Australia. Impacts include predation by dogs, vehicle strikes, and disease. Koalas living in fragmented habitats are also more susceptible to drought-induced death and injury from bushfires.

Koalas are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN but the combined population of koalas in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory was listed as endangered by the Australian government in February 2022. Their numbers are plummeting because of habitat loss and fragmentation.

At IFAW, we're working to build climate corridors for koalas and other wildlife in Australia. These help koalas cope with a changing climate and landscapes by giving them safe spaces to move to as conditions and food sources shift. We also support a team of dogs who sniff out sick and injured koalas. We can then rescue, rehabilitate, and release healthy koalas back into safe wild habitats. We work with private landholders and local groups on the ground to reconnect fragmented habitats through community tree-planting events.

Bison

In North America, urbanisation, agriculture, and industrial development have fragmented the habitat of bison. Through much of their range and their migratory paths, grasslands that formerly served as grazing areas have been converted to farmland.

The American bison (Bison bison) is classed as near threatened by the IUCN.

Caribou

The tundra and forest habitats of caribou are becoming fragmented by things like transportation infrastructure, energy plants, tourist resorts, and forestry. When groups of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) become separated from each other, it becomes more difficult for them to breed and to migrate in large herds. This affects not only the caribou themselves but also, as a result of altered feeding patterns, the vegetation in their ecosystems.

According to the IUCN, caribou are vulnerable to extinction, and their population numbers are decreasing.