Science Common Sense

378 - What is habitat fragmentation, and why is it a problem?

Habitat fragmentation is when a big area of land that animals live in (like a forest) is broken up into smaller pieces because of roads, buildings, or farming.

Imagine you live in a big house with your family, and suddenly someone builds a big wall right in the middle of it. You can't easily get to the other side or see your family members anymore. That's how animals feel when their home is broken up.

This is a problem because:

• Animals have trouble finding food, friends, or a place to live.
• They can't move safely to other areas to find what they need.
• The small pieces of land might not be big enough for all the animals that used to live there.

As a result, animals might become lonely, hungry, or even disappear.