Frog species under threat breeds in Lower Saxony for the first time - Successful Breeding of Endangered Toad in Lower Saxony
It's no small feat - for the first time, scientists in Lower Saxony have successfully bred the endangered common spadefoot toad (Epidalea calamita). According to reports from the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) in Lower Saxony, these tiny jumpers found a home in an outdoor terrarium at the end of May.
In addition to the common spadefoot toad, NABU’s conservation team in Hessisch Oldendorf is also working on breeding two other similarly threatened amphibian species: the common midwife toad and the common natterjack toad.
The "Life Bovar" project, funded by the EU, is dedicated to the protection and sustainable conservation of endangered amphibians. This includes the breeding of toad species, which, as it turns out, is quite a challenging undertaking for the common spadefoot toad.
In captivity, this threatened species reproduces only under specific conditions, such as a particular water temperature or soil composition. To replicate these ideal conditions, project team members extensively redesigned the 12-square-meter outdoor terrarium, complete with clay-modeled shallow water zones.
Project leader Mirjam Nadjafzadeh hailed the breeding success as a "milestone in species conservation." In Central Europe, common spadefoot toads not only face a high extinction risk but also hold a place among the most threatened amphibian species.
The offspring will be released into the wild once they're ready. Conservation efforts for these amphibians can be quite nuanced, involving a blend of habitat preservation, research, education, and threat mitigation. For instance, projects might aim to protect their natural habitats, monitor populations, conduct research, tackle threats like pollution and invasive species, and engage local communities in conservation activities.
Enrichment Data:
- Habitat Protection: Protecting natural habitats like wetlands and breeding grounds is essential. This may involve creating protected areas or preventing habitat destruction through policies.
- Population Monitoring: Regularly monitoring populations helps in understanding their dynamics and identifying areas where intervention is needed.
- Research and Education: Conducting research on the species’ ecology and educating the public raises awareness and supports conservation efforts.
- Threat Mitigation: Addressing threats such as pollution, climate change, and invasive species is vital for maintaining healthy populations.
- Despite the significant challenges in reproduction, the "Life Bovar" project, funded by the EU, is also focusing on the breeding of the common midwife toad and the common natterjack toad, employing rigorous employment policies to create ideal conditions for these threatened species in captivity.
- As the common spadefoot toad offspring grow, conservation efforts will turn towards health-and-wellness, ensuring they are prepared for life in the wild by releasing them into protected habitats, while also addressing potential threats through environmental-science research, habitat preservation, and community engagement in conservation activities.
