Trust recognised for work to save frog species

A wildlife conservation trust has been shortlisted for an award for its work to save the agile frog.

Jersey's Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust said conservation efforts to safeguard the species began in 2001 and it had been recognised at the Great British Wildlife Restoration Awards.

The trust said Jersey was the only place in the British Isles with a population of agile frogs but they had steadily declined to two locations in the island by the 1980s and later in the decade there was just one breeding site due to a pesticide spill.

Emma Michel, from the trust, said: "Without this contribution, the species would have probably completely disappeared from Jersey by now."

The trust said the awards aimed to show the work taking place "tackle the drastic decline of native species, whilst also urging politicians to act now for nature".

It said the agile frogs in Jersey were genetically different to other agile frogs due to their separation from the populations in mainland Europe.

"To date, Durrell has head-started over 75,000 tadpoles to metamorphosis and released them back into Ouaisne, Noirmont, and Beauport ponds," it said.

"Raising the tadpoles in a bio-secure converted shipping container at Jersey Zoo protects them during their most vulnerable stage, meaning more of the population survives once Durrell releases them into the wild."

The trust said there were 26 other shortlisted projects with a winner to be decided in January.

Ms Michel said: "As an organisation, Durrell puts a lot of work into the conservation of endangered species all around the world, but it is just as important to preserve the biodiversity on our doorstep.

"With a new species action plan agreed with our partners in 2024, we will keep developing the project to increase the population of this wonderful Jersey native frog."

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