The first iberianature forum sponsored wildlife project

[Clive]

Hi all

In April as part of our itinerary for the very first Iberianature forum meeting (summit!) we visited the Zoo Botanico in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz province).

We were shown around the zoo by Iñigo Sanchez who spent a lot of his valuable time telling us about its history and occupants with an emphasis towards the endangered species from within Spain that are part of breeding programs for release in order to increase the wild populations.

After the summit was over and everyone had gone home one of our members suggested by email that maybe we (the Iberianature Forum members) could support one of these programs by raising funds. (Great idea Technopat! Yes you have been named)....

We have put this idea to Iñigo Sanchez (forum member / curator at the zoo and patient guide for the tour (especially given that it was actually his day off and he came in especially for us!)

The result is......

The zoo is in the process or requesting permission to collect from the wild an endangered species of amphibian for captive breeding and release and we (The Forum) can help out with the project.

Alytes dickhilleni is a species of Midwife toad that only occurs in the Southern part of Spain hence its common name of "Betic / Southern Midwife Toad" after the "Baetic" mountain range in the Andalucía. (In Spanish it's a Sapo partero bético).

The project needs some large glass terrariums (5) in order to house and breed the toads that cost (the terrariums) about 150 Euros each. (of course the toads aren't 150 euros each, that would be silly...

In return for our help the Iberianature Forum will be named as sponsors and our collaboration will be mentioned in all the results returned from the project. (We will be famous at last!)

The community of iberianature has come a long way over the last year or so and we have all contributed to an excellent resource about the natural world of Iberia but this, for me at least, is an excellent opportunity for us as a group to help in a practical way some people who are really working hard to protect their environment.

Any money can be posted to Sue and I here in Grazalema and when we have enough to buy one terrarium we will personally go to the shop and organise it. It is guaranteed that the money we raise will go directly to this project and not get lost or redirected via bureaucracy as we won't be donating cash to the project... We will be donating physical items that will be used in this new project (and projects that come afterwards...)

For the address to send any money to please just email me or send me a personal message.

From a fiver to whatever... It all adds up....

There is 100 euros in the kitty right now and I will post here when we have bought the first terrarium....

All feedback is greatly appreciated please and I will move this to a dedicated board at some point so that we can share images and developments of the project....

Clive

[Technopat]

Greetings Oh Great & Wise Powers-that-B. and Fellow/Fellowess iberianatureforumers,
Accustomed as I am that my comments, suggestions and whatnots tend to fall on deaf ears - this being a nature-related forum, the Bible's “The deaf adder stoppeth her ears, and will not hearken to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely” (Psalm whatever-it-is) springs readiliy to mind here -, I must say that I am over the moon (Sp. anyone?) with Clive's project and am all for it, even though I am - at present & and for the moment - unable to tell the difference 'tween a toad and a frog.

Iñigo pointed out that while many people were delighted to sponsor "exotic" animals such as white tigers, elephants and other non-Iberian Peninsula native species, they were decidedly unfazed about autochthonous and/or ugly b*****s disappearing ...

Given its rather unfortunate name, Alytes dickhilleni / Southern Midwife Toad / Sapo partero bético, I reckon the poor wee critter deserves all the extra help it can get ...

Looking-forward-to-becoming-more-knowledgeable-on-toads regs.,
Technopat

[lisa]

I like the idea of helping to buy tanks for this project too but, as I think Tp is suggesting in his usual convoluted inimitable style, I'd like to know more about the project.
Why is the Southern midwife toad in trouble? Habitat? Climate change? Prognosis for survival?
In my Collins Field Guide to Rep's and Amph's it says these toads live in mountainous areas from about 480m - 2,300m. So, it's restricted to the Andalucian sierras?
Sorry Iñigo, lots of questions but it's all so interesting! 
Here's an extract from the previous link;
"Trends and Threats
The restricted range occupied by A. dickhilleni and the apparent scarcity of the species at many of the places where it has been observed, lead Arnzen and Garcia-Paris (1995) to recommend its immediate legal protection. Although the conservation status may ot be so delicate as that of A. muletensis, some similarity is apparent, with many of the populations confined to valleys that are probably isolated from one another. Suitable habitat seems to be disappearing, mainly as a consequence of water withdrawal and droughts. With the decline of traditional cattle raising practices, drinking troughs that serve as habitats for tadpoles are disappearing. Fortunately, the Spanish Institute for Nature Conservation ICONA quickly recognized the need for research and commissioned a study to assess the conservation status of A. dickhilleni.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

Drainage of habitat."
Would you agree?

Don't forget everyone, I have my own project slowly forming in my head for the restoration of the (Common) midwife toad in Aliezo 
P.S. I thought it would be nice to see what we're talking about. The photo is from sierradebaza.org.

[Clive]

I must say that I am over the moon (Sp. anyone?) with Clive's project and am all for it, even though I am - at present & and for the moment - unable to tell the difference 'tween a toad and a frog

Ahem, Tp..... The idea was yours if I remember.....

Yes Lisa, we need to get a lot more information and make a dedicated topic about this so that we can all watch and learn how the project develops.... We will get all the pre- data we can from Iñigo and anyone else involved as well.... I think it will reside on the amphibians board and be stickied to the top so it reamins visible all the time...

Anyone who wants to make a donation can just let me know how much and I will send you a dedicated Paypal email... (For those of you that use and trust paypal that is)....

Clive

[nick]

This is very good idea Clive and TP and has brought a smile to my face.
I will definately be donating something to this in the short term

I think the idea of a dedicated topic in amphibians and the other ones is ideal.

Claps all round.

Nick

[nick]

http://www.iberianature.com/spainblog/2008/05/20/iberianature-forum-sponsored-wildlife-project/

[Clive]

That's great Nick!

I am waiting to get the project brief and some more information from Iñigo at the zoo and then I will set up a dedicated topic for it with a link to a Paypal page so people can donate directly if they wish...

Clive