STRENGTHENING THE POPULATION OF THE ENDANGERED FIRE-BELLIED TOAD AT TAARUP STRAND IN DENMARK

At the Danish LIFE AMPHICON project site the population of Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) was in critical condition before project start. Only two calling males were heard during the baseline monitoring in 2020. The critically low population was urgently in need of action to avoid inbreeding depression and extinction.

In Denmark the Fire-bellied toad has lost many habitats due to intensive land-use through the 1900s. This has led to very isolated and small populations in only a few localities. Actions to support the populations and habitats are essential to preserve the few populations left and the species in Denmark.

At the project site, Taarup Strand, in Denmark, the population reinforcement of Fire-bellied toad has been completed in 2024. This action, which started in 2020, aimed to support the low population levels of the species by supplementing it with genes from a neighbouring population at Klintholm.

The process began by collecting Fire-bellied toad’s eggs from Klintholm and transporting them to a rearing station. At the station, the eggs hatched into tadpoles, which were reared in tubs. Daily care ensured the healthy growth of the tadpoles, and as they metamorphosed into toadlets, they were provided with simulated lake shore environments to prepare them for release into the wild.

From 2020 to 2024, a total of 4,350 toadlets were released.

The success of this reinforcement action has already been observed, with a significant increase in the local population, and ongoing monitoring will continue through 2025 and 2026. This project represents a crucial step in conserving the Fire-bellied toad in Denmark.

Photo: A. F. Tofte