8,000 Tadpoles Released To Help Save Austria’s Threatened Moor Frogs

Around 8,000 moor frog tadpoles have been returned to Carinthia after spending about 10 weeks being raised under protected conditions at Schönbrunn Zoo as part of a conservation effort to strengthen the species’ population.

In spring, moor frog spawn was brought from Carinthia to the zoo with the required permits. The tadpoles were raised in optimal conditions to protect them from drying breeding ponds and numerous natural predators found in their native habitat.

Once the young frogs developed their hind legs, they were transported back to Carinthia. There, they were placed in special floating net enclosures that will protect them until they leave on their own and move onto land.

The moor frog is considered a threatened species in Austria. Its populations have declined significantly due to the loss of suitable habitat and the effects of climate change, which causes breeding ponds to dry out earlier.

Zoo officials said the successful rearing and release of approximately 8,000 tadpoles is intended to reinforce existing populations and help reverse the species’ decline.

The breeding and reintroduction program is part of the “Wetting and Deepening” biodiversity project. Working with amphibian experts and conservation partners, Schönbrunn Zoo aims to secure moor frog populations in Carinthia over the long term while improving their habitats. The initiative is the first in Austria to apply the “One Plan Approach” to amphibian conservation, linking protection efforts inside and outside natural habitats.