Earth Day 2020 dawned on Wednesday in the middle of a bizarre moment for the planet, with humans in lockdown due to the coronavirus and many animals suddenly feeling emboldened to venture into now-deserted cities, towns and parks.
Humans have watched from afar as nature has come creeping out of the shadows over the past month amid global lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Herds of animals have boldly wandered through rural towns. Scavengers have picked over city trash bins with no humans around to shoo them away.
And in some places, vicious packs have fought over food and territory that they’ll eventually be forced to surrender when the lockdowns end.