A young opossum with large round ears peeks through green leaves against a concrete background, bringing a touch of wildlife to the neighborhood. Its eyes are bright as it stands among fallen leaves on the ground, one ear adorned with a leaf.
A ladybug with a shiny red and black shell crawls on a green leaf, showcasing wildlife in the neighborhood. The soft-focus background highlights the insect's delicate features and the leaf's textured surface, bringing a touch of nature to the city scene.
A close-up of a swallowtail butterfly perched on a thin twig, showcasing vibrant yellow, black, and orange markings. This stunning piece of city wildlife is set against a soft-focus blend of green and purple, hinting at a neighborhood's natural charm.
Three small rodents gather on the ground in a peaceful corner of the neighborhood, surrounded by twigs and leaves. One is nibbling on something. A blurred green background and an overturned cupcake liner hint at the vibrant city wildlife scene just outside our doorsteps.
Close-up of a rhinoceros beetle on damp soil, surrounded by twigs and dried leaves. The beetle's shiny, dark brown exoskeleton and prominent horn are visible. In this wildlife scene, green foliage is blurred in the background, capturing a hidden world within the bustling city outskirts.
A young fox sits in a lush, green field filled with small white flowers on the edge of the city. The fox, with its reddish-brown fur and alert expression, seamlessly blends into this serene neighbourhood scene, creating a captivating snapshot of urban wildlife.

Welcome to the Neighbourhood – Wildlife in the City

Nature & Wildlife·2 x 50 min·In Production

As cities grow, so does their impact on nature. Explore how urbanization affects wildlife and our health, and discover ways to make cities healthier for all.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Duration
2 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
In Production
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Synopsis

Cities are like living organisms. Healthy and in perfect balance they can make their inhabitants happy, humans just as well as animals and plants. Thrown off balance, they get sick ­– and with them all the creatures living here.

Today’s challenges put cities under a lot of pressure. Growing numbers of people and a capital investment boom are leading to a tremendous loss of green spaces, increased sealing of soils and a higher population density. The well-being of many cities is under threat. How can we keep them healthy or make them even healthier?

The prevailing opinion is that cities belong to the people and that “nature” is the place for animals. We tend to forget that we have long since turned the countryside into an agricultural desert in which neither animals nor plants can live and thrive. What’s more, we urgently need to protect whatever remains of “nature“ in our cities.

Little seems to be known about the importance of urban green space, not only for animals and plants, but for people. That’s why this two-parter sets out in the search for answers. What are the consequences of rapid urbanisation for biodiversity, cities’ ecosystems and people’s health?

We set off into the world of animals that have escaped to the city and tell their stories. There are animals like hedgehogs or sand lizards that have disappeared from the agricultural landscape, but have found their home in the diverse mosaic of private gardens. Today, rhinoceros beetles mainly feed on compost and no longer on dead wood in forests.

These animals have adapted over time. Blackbirds sing louder and earlier in the morning to brave rush hour; urban foxes have grown shorter snouts for they no longer use them to catch mice but tear open plastic packaging. White-footed mice in New York can now digest fast food instead of whole grains.

The problems these animals are facing as a result of urbanisation can be measured. An extensive study on blue and great tits shows that the chances of survival of chicks decrease with each additional percent of soil sealing. Fifty percent soil sealing means only half of the chicks will fledge.

Team

Written and directed by Heiko De Groot
Executive producers Susanne Lummer, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A co-production of Terra Mater Studios and Federvieh in association with NDR/ARTE
Footage rights

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