RE-INTRODUCTION NEWS Newsletter of the Re-introduction Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC) No. 17 : April 1999 ISSN 1560-3709 Letter from the IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Letter from the General Manager & Chief Specialist Group Chairman Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo MARK. R. STANLEY PRICE CALVIN J. WHITE his edition of RSG’s round the world scientists, newsletter, Re-introduction conservationists, zoos and News, is a special issue that is other wildlife -related dedicated to reptile and organizations are working to Tamphibian re -introductions. The recent Apreserve wildlife and the habitats and declines in amphibian populations ecosystem processes that sustain them. worldwide is also an issue of major Increasingly wildlife populations are concern because in many cases they serve managed in smaller and smaller habitat as indicator species. These large scale patches. Zoos with their experience in disappearances should be a warning sign managing small populations contribute that conditions on our planet may not be not only to public awareness of very healthy. The wide array of articles in this issue shows the conservation and education issues, but zoos also provide a supply of commitment of herpetologists worldwide to restore populations of genetically and demographically managed animals for release to the reptiles and amphibians. It is a pleasure to say that 100% of those wild. asked to contribute to this issue have done so! We at Toronto Zoo are proud of our support of recovery plans and This issue has been generously funded by the Toronto Zoo, projects for the re -introduction of endangered species. All of these Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and I would like to thank the General projects involve many zoos working together with local Ma nager and Chief Executive Officer, Calvin J. White; RSG communities, parks and reserves, universities, the Canadian Wildlife Member, Bob Johnson and other Toronto Zoo Management Staff Service and the United States Wildlife Service to preserve for providing support. It is very encouraging that the Toronto Zoo is biodiversity. Toronto Zoo is pleased to support the efforts of the committed to reptile and amphibian restorations and sees production RSG. Within the RSG, wildlife managers and conservationists are of this issue of the RSG’s newsletter as a significant support for their collaborating with government agencies to share resources and conservation actions. expertise to establish, test and to improve reintroduction techniques and guidelines. The RSG provides a framework for scientific The Re-introduction Practitioners Directory is now published and collaborations which support wildlife populations in-situ. I am RSG has received the first copies. This directory was prepared as a pleased that Toronto Zoo has been able to support the dedicated joint project between the National Commission for Wildlife members of the RSG. We would like to acknowledge the ongoing Conservation and Development (NCWCD), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia work of Mark Stanley Price and Pritpal S. Soorae "Micky" who and the RSG in Nairobi, Kenya. I would like to take this opportunity have worked so diligently to assemble the reports for this newsletter. to thank Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz H. Abuzinada, Secretary General, NCWCD and Philip J. Seddon, Research Co -ordinator & RSG Bird As we approach the new millennium, the efforts of the RSG will Section Chair, National Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi become increasingly vital in preserving the earth's natural ecological Arabia, for providing funds and working closely with RSG on this diversity. As conservation advocates we face many challenges, but project. This directory will hopefully prove to be a useful we can not lose sight of what is at stake. The collective contribution networking tool for re-introduction practitioners, researchers, of agencies and professionals committed to wildlife, such as the students and interested individuals alike. Details for obtaining this RSG, will make a difference in the years to come. directory are shown on page 27 of this newsletter. RE-INTRODUCTION NEWS No. 17 April 1999 Page 1 CONTENTS Page GENERAL ISSUES GENERAL ISSUES --------------------------------------------------- 3 Amphibian and reptile re-introductions in western Europe: preliminary report ---------------------------------------------- 3 Amphibian and reptile Herpetofaunal re-introductions for species conservation re-introductions in western in the U. K. -------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Europe: preliminary report AMPHIBIANS --------------------------------------------------------- 4 Toads, Frogs and Tree-Frogs ----------------------------------------- 4 Since its creation in 1990, the European Amphibian and Puerto Rican crested toad: status and re-introduction strategies ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Reptile Species Survival Group (EARSSG), has been The recovery program of the Mallorcan midwife toad, highly active in both the European Union (EU) and in the Mallorca, Spain --------------------------------------------------------- 5 Council of Europe (CoE) regions. The group has been most Conservation of the natterjack toad in England and Wales, involved in the western European countries that have looking at the role of translocations ------------------------------------- 6 The European tree frog re-introduction in Latvia ----------------------- 8 belonged for the longest period of time to the EU and CoE Translocation of the Maud Island frog in the Marlborough and this review is largely confined to these countries as Sounds, New Zealand --------------------------------------------------- 9 shown in table 1. Activities have been most extensive in the Romer frog re-introduction into a degraded tropical following countries: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the landscape, Hong Kong, P. R. China ------------------------------------ 10 Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, UK, and to a NEWTS AND AXOLOTL -------------------------------------------- 11 smaller extent France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Great crested newt re-introductions in Britain -------------------------- 11 Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Eire. Official re-introduction The axolotl augmentation project at CIBAC, Mexico ------------------ 12 projects for reptiles and amphibians have been particularly REPTILES ------------------------------------------------------------- 13 prevalent in the following western EU and CoE countries Tortoises ---------------------------------------------------------------- 13 (in approximate order of greatest activity): Denmark, Re-introduction of the Western swamp tortoise, Australia ------------- 13 Germany, UK, Sweden and the Netherlands. Re-introduction of Hermann’s tortoise in France ----------------------- 14 Captive-breeding and rearing of giant tortoises in Galapagos for recovery of two threatened populations ----------------- 15 The group appointed a formal contact point with the IUCN Re-introduction Specialist Group in 1996 and data from a TUATARA ------------------------------------------------------------- 16 preliminary appeal for information on projects has been Re-introduction of northern tuatara to Mutohora Island, collated. However, many projects have been carried out Bay of Plenty, New Zealand -------------------------------------------- 16 locally and occasionally without involvement of national SKINKS, IGUANA AND LIZARDS --------------------------------- 18 government officials or nature conservation organizations. Re-introduction strategies for New Zealand skinks --------------------- 18 Collating hard data requires a good level of communication The recovery strategy for the Jamaican iguana ------------------------- 19 with those who are involved in the actual projects and this Successful establishment of translocated St. Lucia whiptails on Praslin Island, St. Lucia, West Indies ----------------------------------- 21 is sometimes difficult partly due to the lack of formal publication of findings. SNAKES ---------------------------------------------------------------- 22 Re-introduction of the Virgin Islands boa to the Puert o Most attention to threatened and rare species has Rico Bank, Caribbean --------------------------------------------------- 22 Breeding and releasing Indian rock pythons by Sundarvan concentrated on two toad species. The captive-rearing of Nature Discovery Center, Ahmedabad, India --------------------------- 24 sea-turtle eggs and the rescue and reburying of nests is also carried out but this is arguably restocking rather than re- CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS -------------------------------- 24 introduction. The Mallorcan midwife toad is an island Re-introduction of the Orinoco crocodile program in Venezuela ------------------------------------------------------------ 24 endemic believed to have been reduced to small enclaves as Supplementation of farm-raised alligators in Louisiana, USA --------- 25 a result of habitat change and the effects of introduced predators. In northern Europe, localized rarity may be more Re -introduction Practitioners Directory ----------------------------- 27 problematic due to 'edge of range' effects. A number of new Information on RE-INTRODUCTION NEWS No. 18 -------------- 27 projects are planned or underway including those for Hierro giant lizards Gallotia simonyi (Spain) and European pond terrapin Emys orbicularis and Dice snake Natrix tessellata (Germany). Projects are usually authorized by government nature conservation organizations in consultation