Yellow-Bellied
The yellow-bellied toad can only be found in three locations in Luxembourg. To boost their population and prevent extinction, inter-municipal association SICONA in Olm has started to count and breed the rare amphibian.
During spring, ten adult yellow-bellied toads were brought in from Germany. Their spawn is collected and the eggs develop into toads in monitored water tanks. After about two months, the tadpoles are released into suitable locations. The timing depends on their development, the weather, and water levels.
"The weather has a major influence on their development. The period from when the egg is laid until they hatch can vary between two and ten days. And it can take 37 to 67 days before they get their hind legs," explains Liza Glesener, biologist and scientific employee at SICONA.
One of the problems is habitat. The yellow-bellied toad needs shallow, temporary bodies of water. These can dry out completely during drought, especially in the months when tadpoles are developing. SICONA is creating new ponds and adapting them to the species' needs, including special toad ponds where water is kept longer and topped up if necessary.
Success is not guaranteed. A previous reintroduction attempt failed. But the method has worked before: the European tree frog was brought back from a single location to more than 100 bodies of water through the same programme.
Three populations left, and a small team trying to make sure there are more.