Nature's Resurgence: 10 Abandoned Places Revived by Wildlife

Call to Earth, an editorial series by CNN, aims to tackle the environmental challenges our planet is facing and promote solutions. In collaboration with CNN, Rolexs Perpetual Planet initiative strives to raise awareness and educate people about sustainability issues, motivating them to take positive action.

Human activity poses an alarming threat to wildlife. However, research indicates that if given sufficient space and time, species on the verge of extinction, both animal and plant, have the potential to recover.

A report commissioned in 2022 by Rewilding Europe, a non-profit organization, revealed that numerous bird and mammal species in Europe are experiencing a resurgence. This study emphasizes the potential for wildlife to rebound and repopulate when provided with the chance. Oftentimes, this opportunity arises when humans vacate an area, allowing nature to reclaim it. From ancient temple ruins entangled with tree roots to former war zones bustling with new ecosystems, there are remarkable instances worldwide showcasing nature's ability to thrive once humans depart.

Ta Prohm, Cambodia

Originally known as Rajavihara (royal temple), Ta Prohm was built in honour of King Jayavarman VII's family.

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This temple was featured as a backdrop in Angelina Jolie's 2001 film "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." Situated east of Angkor Thom, an ancient capital of the Khmer Empire, the temple was originally constructed in the late 12th century as a Buddhist monastery and university. At its peak, it was home to a population of over 12,500 individuals, with an additional 80,000 residing in nearby villages who served the temple. However, three centuries later, the temple and its surrounding forested areas were abandoned when the king decided to relocate the empire's capital from Angkor.

The temple has remained mostly undisturbed, enabling the growth of trees in the entire complex. Among these trees, the ones that stand out on Instagram are the enormous fig, banyan, and kapok trees, whose roots cover the temple walls and overshadow visitors.

Wildlife Alliance, a global environmental organization, states that the forests surrounding Angkor were once teeming with animals. However, due to excessive hunting and illicit trading in the past century, the populations of these animals have significantly dwindled. Only a few common species, such as muntjac deer, wild boar, and leopard cats, remain.

In response, since 2013, Wildlife Alliance, in collaboration with Cambodian government entities, has reintroduced various animal species to Angkor, including pileated gibbons, silvered langurs, smooth-coated otters, hornbills, and the critically endangered green peafowls.

Houtouwan, Shengshan Island, China

Frozen in time, Houtouwan, on Shengshan Island, receives thousands of visitors each year.

The village, previously inhabited by more than 3,000 residents, became increasingly inaccessible due to its remote location, requiring a travel time of over five hours to reach the mainland. This hindrance affected access to education, employment opportunities, and sustenance. Consequently, beginning in the 1990s, a mass exodus ensued, resulting in the complete abandonment of the village by 2002.

Houtouwan, a former thriving fishing village on Shengshan Island in the Zhoushan Archipelago, now resembles an abandoned town from a post-apocalyptic world. With a population of over 3,000 residents in its prime, the village's seclusion, requiring more than five hours of travel to reach the mainland, made it difficult for residents to access essential resources such as education, employment, and food. As a result, people began to relocate in the 1990s, and by 2002, Houtouwan was entirely deserted. Years of neglect have allowed nature to reclaim the land, as vibrant green climbing plants now blanket the remnants of what was once a bustling community.

Today, the village is a popular tourist destination, welcoming over 90,000 visitors in 2021, according to local news reports.

Mangapurua Valley, New Zealand

The "Bridge to Nowhere" in Mangapurua Valley.

Soldiers returning from military service were offered land in the Mangapurua Valley on New Zealand's North Island after the conclusion of the First World War. Established in 1919, the settlement reached its peak with nearly 40 soldiers and their families attempting to build a livelihood on the given land.

Due to its remote location and infertile agricultural lands, the valleys were ultimately abandoned by the mid-1940s. As a result, the forest flourished once again, welcoming back its native fauna.

Today, the only tangible evidence of the once-thriving settlement is the solitary "Bridge to Nowhere," a concrete structure that serves as a mere pathway for wildlife. All traces of human habitation, such as houses, farms, culverts, and the Mangapurua Road, have been reclaimed by the encompassing forest and now form an integral part of the Whanganui National Park.

Previous agricultural and horticultural activities undertaken by soldiers and their families have transformed a significant portion of the Mangapurua Valley's forest into grasslands and wetlands, interspersed with a small number of fruit and rose trees that serve as reminders of a bygone era.

Within the expansive Whanganui National Park, one can find the largest population of North Island brown kiwi in New Zealand, along with a diverse array of bird species such as grey warblers, robins, silvereyes, and bellbirds. The Whanganui River, known for its abundant biodiversity, is home to 18 different fish species, including eels, freshwater crayfish, and black flounders.

Steam Ship Yongala, Australia

The SS Yongala is now home to hundreds of different species.

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Resting on the ocean floor for over a century, the SS Yongala - Australia's largest and remarkably well-preserved shipwreck - now serves as an ecosystem, supporting a diverse range of majestic marine life.

In 1911, a year prior to the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic, the SS Yongala met its tragic end during Cyclone Yasi, sinking in the Great Barrier Reef marine park. Sadly, all 122 passengers and crew perished at sea. This devastating event remains one of the most mournful maritime disasters in Australian history. Despite an exhaustive seven-day search soon after the incident, the ship remained undiscovered until its eventual identification in 1958.

Today, a vibrant array of coral carpets the 109-meter-long wreckage, providing shelter for a diverse range of species including loggerhead turtles, marble rays, bull sharks, and moray eels.

Ilha da Queimada Grande, Brazil

Snake Island, officially called Queimada Grande Island, is infamous for being the habitat of the Golden Lancehead, an extremely venomous snake species that has developed a distinctively smaller and more slender appearance compared to its mainland relatives.

An island off the coast of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil boasts cliffs and is blanketed by a mix of tropical forest and grassland. However, an ideal holiday spot it may not be, thanks to the presence of diverse local wildlife.

Ilha da Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island, is home to the world's highest concentration of golden lancehead snakes, with an estimated population of about 2,000. In addition to these snakes, the island is inhabited by bats, lizards, two resident passerine birds (the house wren and bananaquit), as well as various migratory birds and seabirds like the brown booby.

According to Professor Marcio Martins from the University of São Paulo, the island was once connected to the Brazilian continental shelf. However, due to changes in sea levels around 11,000 years ago, it became completely isolated by seawater. As a result, the golden lancehead snakes have adapted to the unique conditions of the island and are unable to leave.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the island was populated by a small group of lighthouse watchmen and sailors. However, it has remained uninhabited since the 1920s.

Presently, the island is under the ownership of the Brazilian government and holds the status of a protected Area of Relevant Ecological Interest. In order to preserve its ecosystem and ensure the safety of individuals, visiting the island without permission is strictly prohibited.

Having visited and stayed on the island for research during the 90s and 2000s, Martins describes the island as a "biological treasure."

Demilitarized Zone, Korea

The lack of human interference has allowed animals, including otters, lizards and deer to thrive in the DMZ.

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Seventy years since the end of the Korean War, the 160-mile (257-kilometer) demilitarized zone (DMZ) dividing North and South Korea has remained a no-mans land.

Once a site of conflict, the land now harbors remnants of villages and military equipment, yet the absence of human interference has allowed it to slowly transform into a sanctuary for wildlife.

Presently, this area thrives as a home to more than 6,000 species of plants and animals. According to the National Institute of Ecology, 38% of Korea's 267 endangered species find refuge in the DMZ. These include the Mongolian racerunner lizard, which inhabits the sandbanks and hides beneath rocks, otters that gracefully swim in the river that separates North and South Korea, the endangered musk deer, and the Manchurian trout, with its largest habitat located there.

Al Madam Village, UAE

In an effort to "return the DMZ to the people," 11 peace hiking trails varying in length from 1 to 5 kilometers have been opened along the DMZ since 2019. However, despite these peace-building initiatives, relations between North and South Korea have deteriorated in recent years.

The homes of Al Madam are now completely abandoned.

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When you imagine nature taking over, green is probably the first color you think of. But in the village of Al Madam, nature comes in yellow.

Al Madam, a mini ghost town located 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. The town, with its rows of furnished homes and a beautiful mosque, appears to have been hastily abandoned and is now being swallowed by the desert. While the exact details of its history remain a mystery, media reports suggest that the village was constructed in the 1970s as part of a public housing initiative for the Bedouin people, who are indigenous Arab tribes known for their inhabitation of desert regions. After only two decades, the village was left deserted, having once housed around 100 individuals.

Researchers attribute the village's abandonment to the emergence of cities like Dubai and Sharjah, which offered improved prospects and more convenient lifestyles. Consequently, the once-admired structures are gradually vanishing amid the relentless wilderness.

Fukushima, Japan

Abandoned homes in Fukushima are being reclaimed by plant life.

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The Fukushima power plant in northern Japan experienced the second worst nuclear disaster in the world following the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011.

As a result, the Japanese government established the Fukushima Exclusion Zone, spanning a distance of 12.5 miles (20 kilometers). This measure forced over 150,000 residents to evacuate their homes. Over time, evacuation orders have been gradually lifted, allowing people to return to certain towns and villages. However, certain areas still remain prohibited for residential purposes.

Contrary to what one might expect, nuclear disaster zones are not barren wastelands. According to research, these areas actually host a diverse range of animal species. James Beasley, a professor at the University of Georgia, highlighted this in a TED talk where he mentioned the abundance of wildlife in the exclusion zone. He specifically pointed out the large population of wild boar, which necessitated population control measures in certain parts of the area. Additionally, other animals such as Japanese macaques, common raccoon dogs, Japanese serow, and red foxes have also thrived in the region.

St Kilda, Scotland

There have been residents on St Kilda since prehistoric times, but the islands were abandoned in 1930.

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The most remote part of the British Isles lies over 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of the Outer Hebrides off the north-west coast of Scotland. The St. Kilda island archipelago boasts stunning natural beauty, with its towering cliffs, breathtaking sea stacks, pristine waters, and hidden caves.

Once inhabited by a fluctuating population, the islanders made the difficult decision in 1930 to relocate to the mainland due to food shortages, inadequate access to medical care, and a declining population. Only 36 residents remained at that time.

St. Kilda has transformed into a thriving wildlife haven and a site of ecological importance, housing nearly 1 million seabirds, including the largest community of Atlantic puffins in the UK. Comprising Hirta, Boreray, Dun, and Soay, these islands are now protected wildlife reserves with prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Additionally, these islands harbor a distinct species of wren and a sub-species of mouse that is twice the size of the typical British fieldmouse. Boreray Island, along with its neighboring sea stacks, is home to the world's largest gannet colony, while all Soay sheep worldwide can trace their ancestry back to the inhabitants of Soay Island.

Stack Rock Fort, Wales

Built over 150 years ago, Stack Rock Fort is now home to seabirds and seals.

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Situated along the Pembrokeshire coast in western Wales, an abandoned island fortress acts as a preserved time capsule. Constructed during the 1850s as a defense against potential sea invasions, Stack Rock Fort initially accommodated numerous cannons, troops, and officers. However, its significance diminished over time. In World War I, a handful of soldiers manned the fort, but it was ultimately disarmed in 1929.

Almost untouched for close to a century, the fort has gradually been taken over by plant life and various animals.

Nicholas Mueller, the newfound caretaker of the fort, is the director of Anoniiem, a community interest company that recently acquired the fort. Mueller intends to preserve it as a "living ruin." In an interview with CNN, he mentioned the presence of thriving hazel plants and an abundance of seabirds, including three distinct species of gulls, each with populations ranging from 300 to 500 residing on the fort simultaneously.

Mueller said regular visitors to the fort include a couple of grey seals. Large black cormorants have set up a colony on the fort and can often be spotted perched with their wings held out.