Latest news with #AmphibianandReptileConservation
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
UK's noisiest amphibians making ‘remarkable comeback'
The UK's loudest amphibian has made a 'remarkable comeback' in the South Downs National Park. Breeding natterjack toads have been recorded at the site for the first time in 50 years after a conservation project to provide suitable habitats for the animal. Twenty-eight toadlets have been counted at Blackmoor, Hampshire, following the reintroduction programme, which started in 2021. Before this, the toad, whose distinctive rasping call can be heard up to a mile away, had only been found on a single site in the national park at Woolmer Forest, Hampshire. In neighbouring Sussex, it is considered locally extinct. Work to provide new suitable territory, led by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), has included creating shallow ponds and restoring heathlands for the introduction of cattle-grazing to create 'perfect conditions' for the toads to return. Jack Harper, of the ARC, said: 'We are delighted that everyone's hard work is beginning to pay off and that the future of this fascinating species is looking brighter in the region. 'This is a great first step to recovering the species within the National Park and a good blueprint for future reintroduction efforts. Thank you to all those involved.' Olivia French, the heathlands project team leader for the South Downs National Park, added: 'This is a wonderful success story for nature recovery and shows that wildlife can thrive if given half a chance. 'With a breeding population at Woolmer and now Blackmoor as well, the future for natterjack toads is certainly looking brighter than it was. This area is the last heathland bastion for this iconic species and extending their habitat range is a big step forward in stopping the species becoming locally extinct.' Ms French said that 75 per cent of breeding sites in the UK had disappeared over the past century with the toads almost exclusively confined to coastal sand dune systems and grazing marshes in north west England and the Solway Firth in Scotland. She added: 'They are one of the most at-risk species from climate change because of rising sea levels, so this makes the comeback in Hampshire all the more significant. It's wonderful to share this good news for nature.' Visitors to the Woolmer Forest area are asked to keep their dogs on the lead during breeding season from April to August to stop any disturbance of shallow ponds, which are not much bigger than large puddles. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway residents urged to listen out for rare Scottish amphibian
The Solway Coast is the only place where the natterjack toad can be found in Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway residents are being asked if they've heard the iconic call of a rare creature. The Solway Coast is the only place where the natterjack toad can be found in Scotland, having once been so abundant that Powfoot villagers said it sounded 'as though it were in the tropics' during the spring and summer. But the population has declined dramatically in recent years, mainly due to the loss or damage of its natural habitat. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Species on the Edge are now asking for anyone who thinks they might have heard the croaking of a natterjack toad in recent years to help shape conservation efforts. Species on the Edge Solway Coast project officer, Liam Templeton, said: 'The natterjack toad is an incredibly rare and charismatic species that we are fortunate enough to have associated with our Scottish Solway Coast. It is beloved by the communities with whom it shares its surroundings, and its disappearance from the Solway coast would be a tragic loss to the cultural identity of these places. 'Those communities now have an opportunity to play an important role in helping to inform efforts to conserve the species, and I'm committed to using my role to empower them with the skills and confidence to make meaningful contributions to species recovery.' Natterjack toads can be distinguished from the common toad by the distinctive yellow stripe along its back. It produces a loud rasping call that can be heard as far away as one kilometre. The mating call of males can be heard during breeding season, which can run from April until July. The natterjack toad is known to thrive in dynamic and changeable habitats such as sand dunes and saltmarsh or merse, many of which are threatened by natural processes such as sea level rise and coastal erosion. The species is also thought to have been negatively impacted by agricultural intensification, forestry activity and urbanisation. The toads tend to lay their spawn in shallow, temporary water bodies that usually either dry up by later summer or are filled with sea water during spring high tides. As a result, their habitat is very susceptible to fluctuations in local weather patterns such as prolonged periods of drought or severe winter storms. Anyone who thinks they have heard the toad should send the date, time and location – and if possible an audio recording – to sote@
The National
23-04-2025
- Science
- The National
Scotland's last venomous snake decline sparks conservation fears
The latest Scottish Adder Survey found the reported distribution of the venomous snake shrank significantly in Scotland between 1994 and 2024. Adders are Scotland's only native snake, and Britain's only venomous snake, although reactions to its bite are usually mild. Adders are secretive and timid, and usually stay away from humans. They can be found in grassland, woodland, upland moors, and coastal areas. Though they can be sensitive to disturbance, they are also sometimes found in human-modified environments such as railways, road embankments, and golf courses. The survey found that the number of ten-kilometre squares in which adders have been reported in Scotland has substantially declined, from 567 pre-1994 to 364 from 1994 onwards — a 36% decrease. READ MORE: Bird of prey illegally shot in Highlands as police launch probe The overall range of adders is largely the same as 1994, with the native snakes remaining absent from the Central Valley, Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles, as well as a large proportion of the upland region between Glasgow and Inverness. The study, a partnership between NatureScot, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, also reported distinct gaps in adder distribution across Scotland, and perceptions that the adder is now becoming less common. Thirty years on from the first Scottish Adder Survey, the research repeated the work carried out in 1994 using similar methods: a questionnaire and a re-survey of the original ten-kilometre square study sites, combined with historic adder records from several different sources. The Great Britain IUCN Red List assessment considers adders to be Near Threatened in Scotland, Wales, and Britain as a whole, and Vulnerable in England. Their declines have been attributed to several pressures, including habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance, and a lack of conservation management. NatureScot's amphibians and reptiles adviser, Catherine Whatley said: 'Reptiles are a challenging species to study in Scotland, due to their low detectability combined with how vast and remote Scotland can be, so we haven't been able to draw robust conclusions about changes in the adder population size. The evidence we have gathered points to a picture of decline, with the contraction in adder distribution quite alarming. 'We're very grateful to all the people who took part in the Scottish Adder Survey, from the surveys and questionnaire participants to everyone who has submitted adder records in Scotland. 'The adder, along with all Scotland's reptiles, is an important species that contributes to Scotland's biodiversity, so it's vital that we have a picture of how they are faring. Further research is needed to give a clearer picture of their status, so that we can carry out the most effective conservation work.' In Scotland, adders are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They are also protected from reckless and intentional harm and death. They appear on the Scottish Biodiversity List as a species that Scottish ministers consider to be of principal importance for biodiversity conservation in Scotland.
The Herald Scotland
23-04-2025
- Science
- The Herald Scotland
'Concerning' decline of Scotland's only native and venomous snake
The found the number of 10km squares in which adders had been reported in Scotland has declined by 36% from 567 pre-1994 to 364 post-1994. The overall range of adders is largely the same as it was in 1994 with the snakes, which are native to Scotland, remaining absent from the Central Valley, Outer Hebrides and Northern Isles as well as a large proportion of the region between Glasgow and Inverness. The study is a partnership between NatureScot, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, also reported major gaps in distribution across Scotland and perceptions that the adder is now becoming less common. The Great Britain IUCN Red List assessment considers adders to be near threatened in Scotland, Wales and Britain as a whole as well as vulnerable in England. Their declines have been attributed to several pressures, including habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance, and a lack of conservation management. Read More NatureScot's Amphibians and Reptiles Advisor, Catherine Whatley said: 'Reptiles are a challenging species to study in Scotland, due to their low detectability combined with how vast and remote Scotland can be, so we haven't been able to draw robust conclusions about changes in the adder population size. The evidence we have gathered points to a picture of decline, with the contraction in adder distribution quite alarming. 'We're very grateful to all the people who took part in the Scottish Adder Survey, from the surveys and questionnaire participants to everyone who has submitted adder records in Scotland. 'The adder, along with all Scotland's reptiles, is an important species that contributes to Scotland's biodiversity, so it's vital that we have a picture of how they are faring. Further research is needed to give a clearer picture of their status, so that we can carry out the most effective conservation work.' Adders are Scotland's only native and venomous snake but reactions to bites are normally mild. They are secretive and timid and generally stay away from humans, but can often be found in places such as railways, road embankments and golf courses.
