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U.S.-Mexico Border Wall: Are Animals at Risk? | National Geographic


border walls exists all over the world

border walls exists all over the world they’re usually built for geopolitical

they’re usually built for geopolitical

they’re usually built for geopolitical reasons but how do they affect wildlife

reasons but how do they affect wildlife

reasons but how do they affect wildlife [Music]

you’ve probably heard about the law that

you’ve probably heard about the law that President Trump wants to extend between

President Trump wants to extend between

President Trump wants to extend between the u.s. and Mexico if all goes to plan

the u.s. and Mexico if all goes to plan

the u.s. and Mexico if all goes to plan it will extend 1,300 miles farther and

it will extend 1,300 miles farther and

it will extend 1,300 miles farther and cost someone a predicted 15 to 25

cost someone a predicted 15 to 25

cost someone a predicted 15 to 25 billion dollars much has been debated

billion dollars much has been debated

billion dollars much has been debated about whether this project can achieve

about whether this project can achieve

about whether this project can achieve its intended purpose slowing

its intended purpose slowing

its intended purpose slowing undocumented immigration and drug

undocumented immigration and drug

undocumented immigration and drug trafficking but beyond that this wall

trafficking but beyond that this wall

trafficking but beyond that this wall will have unpredictable and potentially

will have unpredictable and potentially

will have unpredictable and potentially disastrous effects on animal migration

disastrous effects on animal migration

disastrous effects on animal migration patterns that have existed for centuries

patterns that have existed for centuries

patterns that have existed for centuries it could actually change the ecology of

it could actually change the ecology of

it could actually change the ecology of the borderlands forever to learn how

the borderlands forever to learn how

the borderlands forever to learn how let’s take a look at the landscapes that

let’s take a look at the landscapes that

let’s take a look at the landscapes that the new wall will pass through most

the new wall will pass through most

the new wall will pass through most people think desert when they think of

people think desert when they think of

people think desert when they think of the ecosystem overlapping Mexico and the

the ecosystem overlapping Mexico and the

the ecosystem overlapping Mexico and the Southwest United States but along New

Southwest United States but along New

Southwest United States but along New Mexico and Arizona lies a rich mix of

Mexico and Arizona lies a rich mix of

Mexico and Arizona lies a rich mix of temperate and subtropical climates so

temperate and subtropical climates so

temperate and subtropical climates so deserts yes but also mountains like the

deserts yes but also mountains like the

deserts yes but also mountains like the ranges of the sky islands and lush flora

ranges of the sky islands and lush flora

ranges of the sky islands and lush flora like oak juniper and pine small wonder

like oak juniper and pine small wonder

like oak juniper and pine small wonder things that so many species rely on

things that so many species rely on

things that so many species rely on these passageways for their survival

these passageways for their survival

these passageways for their survival you’ve got the collared peccary the

you’ve got the collared peccary the

you’ve got the collared peccary the chachalaca as well as plenty of American

chachalaca as well as plenty of American

chachalaca as well as plenty of American icons like the Bison armadillo and

icons like the Bison armadillo and

icons like the Bison armadillo and coyote creatures of all stripes are

coyote creatures of all stripes are

coyote creatures of all stripes are threatened when their basic thruway’s

threatened when their basic thruway’s

threatened when their basic thruway’s are taken away how can they find water

are taken away how can they find water

are taken away how can they find water when they’re Creek has dried up how can

when they’re Creek has dried up how can

when they’re Creek has dried up how can they procreate without a selection of

they procreate without a selection of

they procreate without a selection of mate

mate

mate worst of all where are they supposed to

worst of all where are they supposed to

worst of all where are they supposed to go when climate change drives the

go when climate change drives the

go when climate change drives the temperatures of their habitats of

temperatures of their habitats of

temperatures of their habitats of potentially uninhabitable levels when

potentially uninhabitable levels when

potentially uninhabitable levels when these walls act as inadvertent dance a

these walls act as inadvertent dance a

these walls act as inadvertent dance a rivers flood of course no one creature

rivers flood of course no one creature

rivers flood of course no one creature is more important to the ecological

is more important to the ecological

is more important to the ecological equilibrium of this region than the apex

equilibrium of this region than the apex

equilibrium of this region than the apex predator in this case amazing native big

predator in this case amazing native big

predator in this case amazing native big cats like Cougars and ocelots that roam

cats like Cougars and ocelots that roam

cats like Cougars and ocelots that roam between the sumikko quarry and Huachuca

between the sumikko quarry and Huachuca

between the sumikko quarry and Huachuca mountain ranges why do

mountain ranges why do

mountain ranges why do apex predators matter so much if the

apex predators matter so much if the

apex predators matter so much if the native predators in this region are

native predators in this region are

native predators in this region are removed from the ecosystem it could set

removed from the ecosystem it could set

removed from the ecosystem it could set off a trophic cascade where the balance

off a trophic cascade where the balance

off a trophic cascade where the balance of flora and fauna populations is thrown

of flora and fauna populations is thrown

of flora and fauna populations is thrown off creating a cascade of volatile and

off creating a cascade of volatile and

off creating a cascade of volatile and unpredictable consequences think of it

unpredictable consequences think of it

unpredictable consequences think of it this way large predators eat deer which

this way large predators eat deer which

this way large predators eat deer which eat the vegetation in an ecosystem they

eat the vegetation in an ecosystem they

eat the vegetation in an ecosystem they keep each other in check

keep each other in check

keep each other in check remove the predator well then the deer

remove the predator well then the deer

remove the predator well then the deer population may grow out of control

population may grow out of control

population may grow out of control and they eat away the available

and they eat away the available

and they eat away the available vegetation thus changing the landscape

vegetation thus changing the landscape

vegetation thus changing the landscape beyond repair and that’s just one

beyond repair and that’s just one

beyond repair and that’s just one example this wall will create

example this wall will create

example this wall will create compromised conditions for all the

compromised conditions for all the

compromised conditions for all the wildlife in the borderlands with unknown

wildlife in the borderlands with unknown

wildlife in the borderlands with unknown and possibly irreparable consequences

and possibly irreparable consequences

and possibly irreparable consequences so how can these animals enjoy safe and

so how can these animals enjoy safe and

so how can these animals enjoy safe and easy transit when their migration

easy transit when their migration

easy transit when their migration patterns cross international borders

patterns cross international borders

patterns cross international borders perhaps wildlife crossing structures

perhaps wildlife crossing structures

perhaps wildlife crossing structures like a series of overpasses could be

like a series of overpasses could be

like a series of overpasses could be constructed and selectively open during

constructed and selectively open during

constructed and selectively open during migration and breeding seasons some have

migration and breeding seasons some have

migration and breeding seasons some have even argued that in this age of portable

even argued that in this age of portable

even argued that in this age of portable drones a target surveillance program

drones a target surveillance program

drones a target surveillance program could be implemented thus rendering this

could be implemented thus rendering this

could be implemented thus rendering this big and expensive law obsolete and

big and expensive law obsolete and

big and expensive law obsolete and unnecessary in any case as Americans

unnecessary in any case as Americans

unnecessary in any case as Americans consider the usefulness of such a law

consider the usefulness of such a law

consider the usefulness of such a law here’s hoping that the ocelots peccaries

here’s hoping that the ocelots peccaries

here’s hoping that the ocelots peccaries the chachalaca x’ and armadillos all

the chachalaca x’ and armadillos all

the chachalaca x’ and armadillos all have a seat at the table

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