Unfortunately, these sorts of claims are impossible to verify. Did they measure like we do? Have the numbers been adjusted? Because everything is politicised

Unfortunately, these sorts of claims are impossible to verify. Did they measure like we do? Have the numbers been adjusted? Because everything is politicised, I have low levels of trust in any of these voices that self-purport themselves to be authorities. It seems so far away from my personal, anecdotal experience. It seems clear to me that rural areas are far less populated nowadays - small rural farms the world over, are being run by parents (or now, grandparents!) in their 80's it seems - the younger generation are in cities. From my school class no one has more that 3 children, and most have none. That should bode for a crashing population, but instead we are told it is increasing drastically. So, while cities may feel busy, I tend to think the population is in decline. And that if lots of rural areas are in decline, that animal populations are probably on the increase, only there's no one there to see it.