The guidelines cover the reasons for conducting amphibian translocations, pre-translocation planning and risk assessment, and also cover important topics such as disease, welfare, human social dimensions, post-release monitoring and reporting results. To provide real life examples, twenty-five amphibian case studies from the Global Reintroduction Perspectives series (2008 to 2021) have been included as references for recent and past projects.

Here, we report the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and ranavirus in 11% of tested individuals in legal amphibian trade fairs in Spain. Although none of the Bd infected animals in trade fairs presented disease symptoms, symptoms of ranavirosis were observed in some specimens which were nonetheless still offered for sale. None of the traders who were selling infected animals showed interest in engaging in collaboration to control infections when offered for free. In addition, a large private urodele collection confiscated by the police in Barcelona comprised a number of illegally wild-caught species. Many confiscated individuals presented signs of poor welfare and several were positive for Bd.  Leer más.

Los paleontólogos han tenido que adaptarse para mantenerse a salvo durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Muchos han tenido que posponer las excavaciones de fósiles, cerrar temporalmente los museos y enseñar a la próxima generación de cazadores de fósiles virtualmente en lugar de en persona. Leer más.

A new study may have uncovered why wall lizards have become the most successful reptile in the Mediterranean region. The results reveal how drastic changes in sea levels and climate 6 million years ago affected species formation in the area. The researchers believe they can now explain why the lizards became so diverse and widespread, something that has puzzled biologists since the 19th century. Leer más.