The supermarket carts submerged in the Tagus River are becoming the new home of seahorses in the Tagus Estuary. This surprising discovery emerged as part of the D-EVOLUÇÃO initiative, which was promoted by WWF Portugal and its partners.
The D-EVOLUÇÃO initiative has as main objectives to monitor the occupation of these improvised shelters by seahorses, remove submerged waste from the river, and contribute to the ecological recovery of the habitat of these species in the Tagus Estuary.
The supermarket carts, which were initially considered only urban waste, ended up revealing themselves as unexpected refuges for marine life. The metallic structure of the carts offers protection and favorable conditions for colonization by seahorses.
The project represents an example of how negative human interventions can, paradoxically, create new opportunities for biodiversity, as long as they are accompanied by adequate monitoring and conservation initiatives.
