Fota Wildlife Park - Natterjack Toad Project

Our Head Ranger Willie Duffy talks about the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Natterjack Toad project which Fota Wildlife Park are involve in.

The natterjack toad, Epidalea calamita, is one of three amphibians found in Ireland. 

Fota Wildlife Park has been involved in the Head Starter population augmentation programme for the Natterjack Toad.

Under the programme, toad spawn from County Kerry has been transferred to both Fota Wildlife Park and Dingle Aquarium and subsequently are reared in tanks before being released back into the native habitat, following the metamorphosis into toadlets.

This approach, known as captive rearing has been shown to reduce their mortality rate to as low as 25%. Following metamorphosis, the toadlets are returned to their native Kerry.