Mother Nature is reclaiming her spaces and places, and her native species are roaming their territories just as nature intended, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Italy, which has been under complete quarantine lockdown since 13 March, has seen the return of clear waters and fish in the canals of Venice.

Venice is the clearest it has been in 60 years. With less need for transportation of any kind to be running, and the canals with less boats, air pollution has dropped in the city and the waters are coming up clean, clear and beautiful.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of Venice’s office told CNN: “The air is less polluted since there are fewer vaporetti and boat traffic than usual because of the restricted movement of residents.”

According to local newspaper La Nuova di Venezia e Mestre, the decline in people, tourists especially, has brought “back the lagoon waters of ancient times, those of the post-war period, when it was even still possible to bathe in the waters of the canals”.

People have taken to the Venezia Pulita [Clean Venice] Facebook Group to share photos and videos highlighting and celebrating the development.

Elsewhere in Italy, dolphins have been spotted in the port of Cagliari in southern Italy, swimming in clearer water. Ducks have reclaimed the fountains in Rome, and wild boar have been roaming the streets in Sardinia.

Image Sources: @Cosodelirante and @AurelBoriciBT Twitter accounts

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living. She also offers content services to businesses and individuals at Rosamedea.com