natterjack-toads-1200x675 2,000 Endangered Natterjack Toadlets Released in Kerry

More than 2,000 endangered natterjack toadlets were released into the wild in Castlegregory, Co Kerry today as part of an ongoing conservation effort to save the species from decline.

The release was carried out by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan, who joined local community members for the annual event.

The natterjack toad is found only in the coastal areas of Castlemaine Harbour and Castlegregory. Its population has fallen in recent decades due to land reclamation and changes in agricultural practices. The species breeds in shallow, sunny ponds which help protect it from predators, but fluctuating breeding success has left it vulnerable.

Since 2016, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has partnered with Fota Wildlife Park on a captive rearing programme aimed at boosting numbers. Spawn and eggs are collected from ponds in Kerry and brought to Fota Wildlife Park, where they are raised in controlled conditions to reduce mortality rates. Once the toadlets complete their metamorphosis, they are returned to their natural habitat.

Minister O’Sullivan said the programme provided “a much needed boost” to the small population, praising the work of NPWS, Fota Wildlife Park and local groups such as the Maharees Conservation Association. He described the release as “an annual homecoming” and expressed hope that the species could be steered toward recovery.

toads-1200x675 2,000 Endangered Natterjack Toadlets Released in Kerry — Back row: John McLaughlin, Fota Wildlife Park, Aidan O’Connor, Maharees Conservation Assocation. L-R Danny O’Keefe, NPWS, Marie Foley, Oceanworld Dingle, Aileen Tennant, Fota Wildlife Park Front: Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’ Sullivan, Martha Farrell, Maharees Conservation Association

Aileen Tennant, Director of Fota Wildlife Park, said more than 13,000 toadlets have been released since the project began. She noted that protecting native species was a central part of the park’s conservation mission, alongside international breeding programmes for threatened species.

Danny O’Keefe, Regional Manager with NPWS, said community support was essential for the species’ survival and highlighted the role of local conservation groups in maintaining the quality of the habitat.

Kevin Flannery, Director of Oceanworld Dingle, also welcomed the project, describing it as vital for both the natterjack and the wider coastal ecosystem.