Have we got newts for you - 500 natterjack toadlets have been released into the wild in Co Kerry to help boost the population of this endangered species.
The baby toads were reared in Fota Wildlife Park as part of a joint project with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The natural range of the natterjack toad is restricted to the coastal zones of Castlemaine Harbour and Castlegregory in Co Kerry.
The species suffered significant losses in range and population in the early 20th century due to land reclamation and changes in agricultural practices in these areas.
Latest estimates put the population at less than 10,000 creatures in the wild. As a result, the natterjack toad is considered to be endangered in Ireland. The species is also protected under the EU's Habitats Directive.
Large numbers of tadpoles are typically lost in the wild every summer due to pond desiccation and predation.
Under the captive rearing project, staff from NPWS, part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, collect toad spawn and tadpoles from ponds in the wild, where mortality rates can be as high as 90%.
They transport them to Fota where they are carefully looked after in special holding tanks over the summer months.
Following metamorphosis, the resulting toadlets are then returned to the species’ native range in Kerry.
Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan visited Fota to see the conservation project for himself, and he was in Castlegregory today to see the toadlets being returned to the wild.
"It is a privilege to see this beautiful animal up close, and I want to commend my staff in NPWS and thank the team in Fota Wildlife Park for their efforts in this important conservation project."
He added: "The natterjack toad is an iconic native species and we will continue working with Fota Wildlife Park, with farmers and with local communities in Kerry to improve its conservation status.
"Both the natterjack toad and the habitats it depends on, such as sand dunes, are protected under EU legislation and my Department is committed to finding ways to protect them."
"The Natterjack is a boom or bust species," explained Dr Ferdia Marnell, the amphibian specialist in the NPWS, who has been overseeing the project.
"Good years can see mass metamorphosis and subsequent juvenile recruitment to the breeding population.
"However, in three or four years out of five, breeding success can be very low. This captive rearing project provides a vital boost to supplement the wild population in Kerry."
