In 2022, Sri Lanka took an innovative step to protect its endangered wildlife by building a rope canopy bridge designed to help monkeys and other arboreal animals safely cross busy roads.
The first bridge was constructed on the Sigiriya–Inamaluwa main road, an area where vehicle traffic frequently puts animals at risk. The project was spearheaded by the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).
The structure consists of two strong steel cables with a secure mesh in between, creating a safe passageway suspended above the road. Its main beneficiaries are the purple-faced leaf monkeys, an endangered primate species endemic to Sri Lanka, along with macaques and other tree-dwelling animals.
While the animals initially hesitated to use the bridge, they gradually began crossing over, reducing the chances of being struck by vehicles. Conservationists consider the project a small but significant step toward co-existence between humans and wildlife in increasingly fragmented landscapes.
So far, this remains the only officially constructed canopy bridge in the country. Environmentalists hope that more such crossings will be introduced in other high-risk areas to expand protection for Sri Lanka’s unique forest species.
This article has been sourced from publicly available media for informational and educational purposes.
